Morning at Ambikapur Railway station

Poets have found trains irresistible. Steam's mucky glamour may only exist now between the covers of The Railway Children, but the romance of the railway lives on. Certainly, there's something compelling about the environment to which the train exposes you - it's the train's ability to suspend you between here and there - outside regimented time, away from the quotidian - that attracts. There's something regenerative in the act of boarding a train in one place and disembarking in another, without having actively engaged in the process at any juncture; it transports, in both senses of the word (Sarah Crown/theguardian.com).

The train is running on the track, track, track 

And I’m sitting in the carriage at the back, back, back
For we’re going on a journey that is fast, fast, fast
The fields and the cows whizz past, past, past
We’re going to the seaside very quick, quick, quick
And I’m listening to the wheels as they click, click, click
And we’re going over the hills to the top, top top
But slowly, very slowly, we come to a station and we stop, stop, stop..sssshhhhhhh

(by Brenda Williams)

Ambikapur Railway Station/©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

Dawn break as soft light from the east envelopes all while moon light in the west sky fades gradually looks as if hanging from the lamp post, train ready to take passengers for their journey in cold winter morning.

Ambikapur Railway Station/©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

― Augustine of Hippo

Ambikapur Railway Station/©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

Listen to the quiet peaceful dawn. Sun touching the rim of spaces' night. Stars fading to brushes of paint In whirlwinds of dusk colored breezes. Passing away the moon's guard To the light of the sun's shift begins Now sweeping into a new day. (share courtesy:Gelene Beverly)

Ambikapur Railway Station/©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

The platform of Ambikapur (India) Railway Station in an early morning glow
This railway station became operational on 3rd June 2006

Ambikapur Railway Station/©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

Side view of the Railway Station building

Ambikapur Railway Station/©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

Old kingly palace of  'Ambikapur' State (popularly known as 'Surguja' State)

Surguja Palace Ambikapur/©Anjani Kumar Tripathi

http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2013/03/architecture-with-endemic-flavour.html
http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2013/09/romance-of-indian-rail-in-hilly-terrain.html

http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2012/03/train-through-hill.html

http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2011/12/hill-call.html

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): animal love

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.




Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!




"My granny had many cows in her barn. She called them all by their individual pet names and they responded as well. Their names were all after the name of Indian rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godawari...."

"One evening all cows returned home from forest after grazing, except one the Ganges.
Ganges came home the morning next. Granny was angry on her and she scolded her. Ganges eyes were all swelled up with tears and she was weeping."

"That is so curious, a pet cow responding on emotional level....?"

"Yes, and then granny came close to Ganges and saw blood and bruises all around her neck. Granny understood that somehow she could save herself from some wild animal, lay hidden in the near by muddy ravine of river all night and in the morning she was able to come back to home."

"And now it was my granny's turn to weep, throwing herself on to the Ganges, caressing her neck incessantly...."
(the story place is Chikhla near Nagpur, region called Vidarbh, rich in Mn ores, wild area in the times 1950s, 60s)

sharing story with Saraitikra teaching staff near Ambikapur

sharing story with Saraitikra teaching staff near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): grief within

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.


Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!









"My grief is not leaving me, 'Guru ji'!!"

"Why it is so?"

"It has been 3-4 years ago, my brother died. He was double M.A., employed in government hospital. My fate changed ever since. For a year or two, I was mentally not okay. 
Things may turn for better if I can arrange marriage of his son with a 'good' girl."

"And if you don't find a 'good' girl for him."

"Then my grief is going to overpower me for all time."

Nan Sai, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Nan Sai, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): conversation different

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!






"Ayeeeeeeeeee...
TaTaTaTaTaTaTaTa.....
Tata....bey....bhaisaaaaa
Ooooooohoooohooooohoooo...
Tata......beyeeee...
Huurraaaaaaaaa
Bhaisa...bey..
Aaaaaale....ooooooo...kahaaaa....kudto..
Tata....beyeeeee....
Wah...rey....bhaisaa...maan...
Chal beta....'Daadoooo'...'Badka'..
Tatattattabeyeee..
Laalooooo..chal beta....
Harrrrrrrr...."

"What are you doing?" 
"Ploughing sir, going to sow chicken pea in this field."
"Do buffalo understand your talk?" 
"Yes, and they need to be taught like parrot from their childhood."

Pawan Kumar, Majhapara/Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Pawan Kumar, Majhapara/Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Pawan Kumar, Majhapara/Saraitikra near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): frost bite

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!







"Our potato crop is suffering from frost bite, leaves are dying, underground tuber will not attain their normal size. It's because of sub zero temperature in the past week."
"What do you do then?"
"We are mending our-water pump and then going to irrigate the potato field. Watering prevents frost."

Bindeshwar and Krishna, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Bindeshwar and Krishna, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

Bindeshwar, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): our days

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!

"This was the shallowest place I use to cross this hilly river."
"And then on 10 miles journey on foot to the school with no slippers."
"Which class do you passed?"
"Only 9th. I was unable to continue due to poverty. Things were so different then in 1981."
"Your kids?"
"My daughter is studying in 9th class in a Government High School just near to my home."
"Things have changed so much!!"

Dhola Ram, 49 years, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

"This is all I had from the paddy crop this year."
''And land you own?"
"Three acres for a big joint family."
"Do you plan for the next crop?"
"It depends, if water supply is provided in the canal by the government, then yes."

Lallu Ram, Saraitikra near Ambikapur

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): democracy royale

We meet amazing people in our life.
Though strangers they are
but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!






"Please vote for our party candidate."
"For your better amenities and services by Municipality council."
"That is what democracy is, it empowers all, children, women, backward classes and everyone."

T.S. Singhdeo, ex Maharaja (King) of Surguja State, canvassing for his party candidate in Municipal election

T.S. Singhdeo, ex Maharaja (King) of Surguja State, canvassing for his party candidate in Municipal election

People of Chhattisgarh (छत्तीसगढ़िया): herbal man and palmist lady

We meet amazing people in our life.

Though strangers they are

but bear character of profound depth and diversity.

Their story quote with photograph 

makes it magical-reality,

as if this being an incredible act of 

freezing a fleeting moment.

Portrait of strangers, inhabitants of a state, 

vibrant monologue of human life, 

to share herewith !!

========================================== 

"How do you cure the bone fracture cases?"
"It's simple herbal treatment."
"I bring herbal plant parts early in the morning from forest, make a paste of those parts on a grindstone with my own hand, apply that paste around that concern part of the person with a bandage around and prepare a drink of the same potion for the patient."
"And how much time a fractured bone takes to heal?"
"Only three days."

Lallu Ram Rajwade, 
Saraitikra, near Ambikapur

"You have 'Trishul' (a trident spear which is the main emblem of the Hindu god Shiva) in your right hand."
"And what does it mean to.."
"You must do some temple-offerings on some suitable auspicious day in time to come."
"Or else..?
........ (silence and smile).

Anjani Kumar Tripathi with Maheshwari Pandey, 
Pahadgaon, near Ambikapur

Romance of Indian rail in hilly terrain of Chhattisgarh state in India

Chhattisgarh (Hindi: छत्तीसगढ़ Chattīsgaṛh is a state in Central India. The state was formed on 
1 November 2000 by partitioning 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking south-eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh.
A state rich in steel, coal, electricity production and forest wealth.

http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2013/03/architecture-with-endemic-flavour.html

Location of Chhattisgarh in India

India's first 5.6-ft broad gauge (BG) engine (the standard in India now) commissioned on 18 February 1853 by Great India Peninsular Railway (GIPR). On 16 April, the country's first passenger train was flagged off from Boribunder in Bombay.

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

Trains have always given a flight to the human imaginations.
The GIPR is mentioned in Jules Verne's 'Around the world in eighty days'. In 1872, protagonist Phileas Fogg and his French servant Passepartout went on a trip around the world. India was connected from Bombay to Calcutta via the GIPR with a break in between. Yet, the journey was finished in three days. Vernes mentions that the 80-mile (128 km) rail journey from Allahabad to Benares was covered in two hours - an average of 64 kmph. Well, some of our fastest trains today average only about 65 to 70 kmph.

http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2012/03/train-through-hill.html

 http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2011/12/hill-call.html

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

Poets have found trains irresistible. Steam's mucky glamour may only exist now between the covers of The Railway Children, but the romance of the railway lives on. Certainly, there's something compelling about the environment to which the train exposes you - it's the train's ability to suspend you between here and there - outside regimented time, away from the quotidian - that attracts. There's something regenerative in the act of boarding a train in one place and disembarking in another, without having actively engaged in the process at any juncture; it transports, in both senses of the word (Sarah Crown/theguardian.com).

The train is running on the track, track, track 

And I’m sitting in the carriage at the back, back, back
For we’re going on a journey that is fast, fast, fast
The fields and the cows whizz past, past, past
We’re going to the seaside very quick, quick, quick
And I’m listening to the wheels as they click, click, click
And we’re going over the hills to the top, top top
But slowly, very slowly, we come to a station and we stop, stop, stop..sssshhhhhhh

(by Brenda Williams)

And gradually came the station Boridand, where train entered the much awaited borders of the state, greeting passengers with a sudden change of air with mist, crystal blue sky, 
thick Sal forest trees beside the rail track, 
and people moving alongside....busy in their daily scores..!!

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

©Anjani Kumar Tripathi/Indian Railways

Augustine of Hippo, also known as St. Augustine

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

― Augustine of Hippo

Funny Faces

Hilly Elephant

Ramgarh > Surguja > Chhattisgarh > India.

Democracy Powers

Democracy is an interesting system of governance. It gives power to a person of common ground to reach the highest rung of the ladder..

This is in reference to our popular Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh state in India, who was a medical practitioner before being elected for the post of Chief Minister ship.