Reminiscences of Shimla

The inexorable march of the mighty wheel of time goes on. I wonder almost a month has elapsed when I left Shimla after completing a Refreshing Course on August 19, 2003. This was my second visit to ASC Shimla. Unlike my previous visit in which the day and date of leaving my home was important, this time it was the day and date of leaving Shimla that acquired paramount significance. Bidding adieu to the organisers and the fellow participants was really as tough as leaving the kids and the family at home. Shimla did become a second ‘home’ for me.

Infact my earlier experience of an Orientation Programme had inspired me to again opt for a Refresher Course at ASC Shimla, in particular. Even before receiving any intimation from ASC authorities, I was mentally prepared and a bit excited too. The shock came when I didn’t hear from the Staff College about my admission. Barely a week left and I had no selection letter in hand to apply for duty leave. It was shocking and I remained upset for two-three days. Of course I was not to give up and I didn’t. Activity helped me in overcoming my depression. I contacted the organizers over the phone, got my application traced and requested the ASC Director, Prof. Yoginder Verma, who was kind enough to accommodate my lost application at the last minute. Turbulence in mind got tranquillized as a major hurdle was crossed.

The dream started taking the shape of reality as I started my journey towards Shimla. Heavy showers of rain extended a warm welcome as I crossed Panchkula and after that the wide variety of moods of nature kept enthralling me throughout. The kaleidoscopic designs of nature were endless. There was no limit to the permutations and combinations that nature designed. Rain, a mild lovable chill, sunshine, the seven colours of rainbow, water falling from the cliffs, majestic trees standing on the tops of the hills - indeed this was a rich feast. It was all so very intoxicating. Nature had cast a magical spell on me and I felt myself to be a part of it.

The zigzag travelling through the lap of nature had refreshed me enough for the rigorous routine of the Refresher course. My dream of sitting in the same conference room in the familiar surroundings and meeting the staff members came true as I joined on July 27, 2003. The familiar ease perhaps with which I carried myself around did attract the attention of others. I remember a localite’s remark, “you seem to be at home”. Yes, of course, I definitely felt so. But I was no exception. The welcome address of Prof. Verma carrying a very significant line "dqN rks igkM+ksa dh eq'kfdysa gksrh gS vkSj dqN eq'kfdyksa ds igkM+ gksrs gS", soon made everybody feel at home. We were all set now for the mission.

Punctuality, the hallmark of ASC, one learns, the very first day as it is ingrained in the ASC's life style. In accordance, began the systematic, heavy schedule of the course. The group formed by the participants seemed attractive and the right sort for interaction and learning. Most of them were very vibrant and enthusiastic. Their radiant eyes made it evident that they had come with high hopes and expectations. Perhaps everybody was looking forward to get the maximum in this limited span. It reminded me of my own comment on expectations of Orientation Programme, "I want the best, Sir". Of course an immediate assurance was given by Prof. Yadav then and the promise fulfilled. Perhaps there were not very many demanding sort like me in that batch. But in this group everybody not only wanted the latest, the best in the discipline but the best in everything.

The thrust area of the course - Literary Theory and English Language Teaching – indeed was very challenging. More challenging even than that was the selection of the right people to speak authoritatively on the controversial and ever-changing domains of these topics. I must appreciate the pains that Prof. V.P. Sharma, the course co-ordinator must have taken in making a very careful choice of the resource persons. The reward of his hard work could be seen in the interest generated in every participant. A whole-hearted involvement of the organisers, the resource persons and the participants, was perhaps the key to such a successful programme. The facile and lucid style of Prof. A.K. Singh while talking about theory, the consummate ease of Prof. V.P. Sharma while discussing formalism and the expertise of Prof. Manjit Inder Singh on Post-colonialism, left indelible impressions on the minds of the participants. The enlightening lectures removed many doubts and made the concepts much clearer than before. Discussions on the latest trends in the fields of literary theory and language teaching certainly enriched our knowledge of our discipline. What was even more important than this was the confidence that this interaction instilled in us. If Orientation Course had taught us to reach each and every type of student in the classroom, Refresher Course had trained us to meet the new challenges in the discipline.

Well, I must confess the organisers knew the art to bring out the best in every participant. It is almost unbelievable that in three weeks time we completed assignments, prepared projects, presented papers, participated in quiz-contests and presided over the sessions. The credit, for diversity working willingly and in such a united manner, certainly goes to the managerial skills of the ASC Director, Prof. Yoginder Verma.

Days passed by, thus learning in the conference room. Then came the day when we moved out to learn from the guide of all humanity – Nature. An excursion trip was organized by the Staff College. The destinations of this visit were Naldehra and Kufri. At Naldehra the golf course, the majestic pines and deodars were a visual delight. Words seem inadequate to express the beauty of nature that was spreading all around. The mighty Satluj, symbolic of the flow of life, was another spot to which we remained glued for long.

The next stoppage was Kufri which made us feel as if we had landed in the very lap of nature. The group got divided further into smaller groups. One could hear them shouting – Hey! come here, have a look at the most beautiful sight. But the other group could be seen already engrossed in admiring another beautiful sight. There was no dirth of wonderful sights. The bright rays of the sun, emitting heat had warmed the atmosphere and we all basked in the sun. The most interesting part of this day was that far off we could see the snow-clad mountains. Perhaps this was because of the first snowfall in Kinnaur. The white snow-caps touching the skies, the dense forests of deodar and the sun shining on the top – well this was Heaven. Salutations to the Creator of such diversity.

The downhill journey on our way back through the valley had its own charm. Here and there one could see small villages. There was beautiful terrace cultivation of maize, vegetables and flowers around these settlements. Everything seemed in tune with nature. Even the buildings looked to be a part of nature rather than any human intervention in it. It seemed nature had taken everything in its fold. As Wordsworth had felt, it seemed one sprit that pervaded everything, permeated everything.

The day was coming to an end. The sun was setting as beautifully as it had risen. As we were passing by the forests of pine, deodar and baan, I was reminded of those beautiful lines of Frost :

The woods are lovely dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Well one runs short of words to describe this kind of experience. Nature and its creation is a vast phenomenon, beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. One can only marvel at it, wonder at it.

The last six days of our stay in Shimla seemed even a shorter span than it perhaps actually was. One could see very clearly the present turning into past every moment. Then came the day of valediction and once again we were on divergent paths leading to our different destinations. Though I had left Shimla yet it was with me. I knew the knowledge imbibed from my experiences of Shimla would become a permanent part of my personality – a part that will always remain very dear to me. Shimla is simply unforgettable.

Dr. Rabinder Powar
Dept. of English,
Punjabi University, Patiala.