Mary Girard's Blog - INDIA 2013

My Trip to India Oct 10-Nov 7 2013

Those who know me well know how long it has been that I've dreamed of returning to India. I grew up there arriving in 1959 and leaving in 1976 (with about 5 years int the States). Most of the time I spent going toWoodstock School in the foot hill of the Hymalyas in a town called Mussoorie.

While I was somewhat curious to head "home" to see my old stomping grounds, my main purpose was to begin a journey of understanding my ancestral connections to India and to discover what India has become.

Yes, I found there are a lot of changes in India, but in truth the most remarkable thing was how "familiar" it was to me.

Trees And Flowers

11/13/2013

To explain the multiple pictures of plants on this blog post:

in high school our art teacher, Frank Wesley, taught us the Kangra Valley art form. One of the remarkable features of this art form is the incredible detail of nature: trees, plants, animals, birds, rivers, clouds, etc. Details of clothing, architecture and the human body also are incredibly detailed. Often these are miniatures yet a single loose strand of hair is captured if you look closely.

My heart resonates with this art because it captures my wonder with the abundance of the life that we all are richly given if we but just look around us and observe the subtle details.

Lanavola Nov 4

11/7/2013

It was refreshing to get out of the heat, noise and pollution of the city and retreat to the hills around Mumbai for a day

http://kdham.com/healthcare/ayurveda/

It is Swami Kuvalayananda, whose efforts are chiefly responsible for the worldwide spread of Yoga.
It is due to his efforts that this ancient discipline of Yoga became more acceptable to modern mind, trained on scientific and rational guidelines.
It is a fact that due to his scientific work, Yoga became more widely acceptable and accessible in the field of health & healing.

had a wonderful full body massage at the naturopathy/ayurveda center

Maharstrian Truck Sto[

Diwali Mubarak

11/3/2013

Once again I am losing track of time. Let's see I think it is the end of Sunday here and the beginning of Sunday back in the US. Divali is in full force and one loud patakar went off near my ear and I am having some difficulty hearing. But that is still such a minor consequence. I had a lovely visit with our dear family friend, Rakesh, in Delhi and a delightful surprise visit with Jan Elder Aijian at the National Art Museum on JanPath. I also had a delightful short visit with Doma on JanPath! (pictures to come, hopefully)

I realize that there is so much that I experience that I haven't taken pictures of or written about. Some of it is because it is so deeply personal and I do simply take it in and enjoy. Some people who I will not mention names but I've spent the last month with her, think I spend way to much time blogging and taking pictures. But the task of a good blogger is to keep her audience engaged. Forgive me if I haven't been as engaging as I could be if I had more time to devote to doing it well, but I've truly enjoyed sharing my journey with you all.

NOw back in Mumbai for the final stretch. I am not even going to try to capture the lights of Diwali on my limited capacity camera. Sorry, but the darkest night of the year is well lit here in India. (perhaps it is visible by satellite somewhere) Trust me it outshines Christmas in the US.

Tomorrow we will go to a smaller Maharastran town, Lanavala after making just a few more little purchases. We hope we can squeeze in a massage at the Ayurvedic Center. Get me all nice a mellow (like I really need that) before flying back to the US.

My internet access may be a little sketchy till I get to the US but I will take questions and request. Hint I'm not going to any of the main tourist places, so don't ask about that. But for instance anything about food, occupations, transportation, dwellings. I can always try to capture the one tiny example in this land of lavish extremes and complexities.

Also since I have been posting on my Samsung phone on inconsistent wifii the photos occasionally get mixed up. I'll do the editing later when I can.

Meanwhile I look forward to another great night of sleep in Muggy Mumbai!~

Back To Mumbai

11/3/2013

Delhi airport

Flew from Delhi to Mumbai. Security found it interesting to find donkey and cow bells in my carry on. It caused much discussion and speculation. The thought of turning them into wind chimes simply did not make sense to them.

taxi drivers having lunch

pigs on the beach

Meeting Good Friends In Delhi

11/2/2013

Rakesh

Jan

Doma

Delhi Nov 1

11/1/2013

IIT guest house

new paint fir Diwali

Nova lox and aloo parata and lamb sausage at the Imperial Hotel

Wonderful time to text in the middle of an intersection

Shatabdi Express Dehra Dun To Delhi Oct 31

10/31/2013

Dehra Dun Station

I did pity the poor coolie who had to carry my suitcase!

chai garam

The Chai just isn't the same without the clay cups. But these packaged yogurt were the genuine article!

Clement Town

10/31/2013

Clement Town is a town of Dehradun district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It borders Rajaji National Park and is away from the crowded regions of DehradunA large Tibetan settlement and the World's Largest Stupa, of the re-established Mindroling Monastery from Tibet, is situated in Clement Town, which was inaugurated on 28 October 2002 and is surrounded by a 2-acre (8,100 m2) garden. There is also a 103 feet (31 m) high statue of Buddha is dedicated to the Dalai Lama.

Drive Down The Mountain Oct 31

10/31/2013

pakora stop

the lone hill no longer has the lone tree

namaskar Rahul ji

Many Thanks To Domas Inn For Two Great Weeks

10/31/2013

Final Scenes Oct 31

10/31/2013

this alley shows up in my dreams as a path that i never went on before now. Now that I think of it these two men look very familiar ...I must have known their father

plumbing in the hills

Duchaan Tour Part 4

10/30/2013

kumar vinod antiques also known as top shop

making tops still

Cemetary In Sesrch Of My Great Great Grandfather's Grave

10/29/2013

My great great grandfather, Ferdinand Hahn died May 3 1910 and is buried in Camels Back Cemetery.

his grave in 1910

i was unable to find the grave but discovered a beautiful view from where the grave site might be

From the journal of his widow Doris:
"The funeral was set for 5 pm. Mr. Gass had told me earlier that only the English clergy was allowed to officiate in the cemetery; no out-of-towner. But Mr. Stoll gave a little meditation in English at the casket, on the porch where the mission Brothers and Sisters Stoll, Gass and Wiens had joined us mourners. Then began the heavy, heavy walk to the cemetery – through the city, past walkers, market people, dandies, etc. – without singing, without bells ringing – only with a heart filled with pain, on the same path which the dear Papa had so often loved to walk. Oh, I could hardly walk, and it was good that someone offered me a dandy which brought me the rest of the way. At the entrance of the cemetery, Chaplain Law, a slender man, stepped in front of the casket and guided the small procession down several slopes, reading Psalms, down to the lowest terrace of the picturesquely arranged cemetery of Mussourie. There, the four gentlemen let the casket down into the tomb, and there, our dear, dear father is now resting until the great resurrection day; resting from all his struggles, worries and works of this poor life, and sees the One in whom he has believed here and whom he has loved above all. But we mourn after him and will never, never forget him."

Prem Singh, the watchman assures me he will keep looking. my allergies flared up so i had to call it quits

most graves are covered in moss or have lost all markings. i worked with the watchman to uncover about 12 graves to no avail.

possible path they took to the cemetary

lovely view in the way to cemetary

where they stayed at Himalaya Hotel

then

now

plot 7: i was told that was the number before i saw this map so Prem Singh promised to keep looking

October Day! Oct 29th

10/29/2013

The first day that I felt was really like an October day that I remember

Landour Oct 31 Dhukhan Tour Part 3

10/29/2013

ready for Divali

and local brew

Landour Dukhan Tour Part 2

10/28/2013

Chullo lets go

school teaching dance

sweets

mechanic shop

dhood walla : milk man

watch repair

More Walking Oct 28

10/28/2013

perfect day to air out the clothes

cricket in the middle of the road

#1 no no....i gave these kids some money to take their picture. One should then be prepared to give them each the same amount. One didn't like that he got only 1 rupee and another didn't know what to do with 2 Euros! The older one hopefully will know how to divide the 10 rupees among them.

Dukhan Tour Part 1

10/28/2013

Mutton Shop

with all essentials to cook meat

mochi and boy playing with magnifying glass

monkey hanging out with the mochi

ready made shoes

sabbzhi walla

Oct 27th Walkabout

10/27/2013

same visitation window at the hospital where my brothers snuck peanuts to my sister when she had mumps

shale wall

kyah hai?

we like to take the path less traveled

arey! rasta kaha hai?

the mighty oak!

this spot made me dizzy

zig zag path is well kept up to WS property marker then its more like how it use to be

moss on the stone

Zig Zag house

one of the hillside's bhotias

Dore And Lebele Hahn

10/26/2013

In 1906 two sisters (15 and 16 respectively) were so excited to be heading back to India with their parents. They'd been away for 11 years studying in Germany. It was their father who worried the most about if they would find sufficient finishing an education for them in what they called Der Reich (British Raj) that would equip them for the
mission work ahead.

Bye and bye arrangements were made to send the two young ladies, Dora and Libele, to Mussoorie to attend the newly formed Teacher Training College at Woodstock School.

Dorchien (Dora according to school records) struggled and just barely passed the Fine Arts program in December 1911. Libchein (recorded as Elizabeth at the school) passed with excellence in the Missionary Training Program in the same year.

They each worked at various posts and then joined forces teaching in Ranchi until all German citizens were required to leave India in 1915 due to World War 1.

Link to article I wrote about my research:
http://woodstockschool.in/blog/guest-author-woodstock-teacher-training-two-programs-100-years-apart/?utm_source=Woodstock+School&utm_campaign=9f30eb1257-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6ceb236e0b-9f30eb1257-50854517