LOST COMPANIONS

       Since early 2003, a stray puppy came inside our home at Panipat, all wet and shivering from cold as it was heavily raining outside. It was picked up from the gate and brought in, wiped clean and given some milk that he did not like. However, somehow a small quantity of milk was given to him with the help of a spoon forcefully. It was quite fluffy, good looking  and seemed  to have been parted from the mother dog. 

       Within next few days, he started eating, playing and drinking milk regularly  and as a result of which, now he looked more good and attractive and we also loved and finally decided to keep him permanently at home. Days and months passed by and Sheru, as we called him, became more homely. He became a member of our family. Sheru was smart, handsome, extra confident and active. Whenever we were on the dining table, Sheru will not miss the occasion. He will sit down by the side and demand his share each time we eat. He was however, never bothered about his own bowl.

        In November 2004, on a fateful day, a boy, perhaps one of the friends of our Son Vivek,  came running to our home and told that your Sheru has been poisoned by Panipat Health Team and his dead body is lying in a drain in NFL Township. It was all over and we could not do any thing as Sheru was not provided with a Neck Belt and the Health Team, therefore, poisoned treating him as a stray dog! Sheru left us behind disheartened and anguished!

       In an extremely cold winter night of 2005, I could not sleep well and spent  restless night because of a very fearful nightmare where a horde of wild dogs, with wide open jaws and tongues moving fast, back and forth, had surrounded me from all sides. I found it quite helpless to protect myself from those barking mad dogs and under the pressure, I gathered all my dare and tried to run away from the scene.  

       But I found it with surprise that whenever I took one long running step ahead, at the same time I was being dragged two steps backwards by an unknown force! Then I found myself totally overpowered by the wild dogs and as a result of which, I woke up at four abruptly, panic stricken, all perspiring and feeling heavy heartbeat strokes pounding heavily, frightened and weak!

       I got up, took some warm water, strolled in the lobby for a while and opened the gate in order to get an idea of the atmosphere.  It was still dark, cloudy and densely foggy outside. The visibility in the street was very low and it was not possible to look beyond even ten yards. After a while, as I was about to shut the gate, I heard crooning sound emanating deep in the fog at a short distance in the street. 

       I tried to go near. When I went a few steps further, the sound became loud and clear. In an effort to locate the spot, I lowered myself a little and found that a small puppy, a few days' old, presumably overrun by a speeding vehicle, most probably by a two wheeler. I immediately ran back to the house and brought Rama, my wife, at the scene. For a moment we thought what to do? The condition of the puppy was so precarious that it needed an immediate medical attention. 

       We decided on the spot, lifted it and brought home. The puppy was all wet due to falling of heavy mist during the night, and trembling due to severe cold which needed immediate medical treatment. It was taken to Vet Hospital the same day and given primary first aid and further treatment

       It was, however, now clear to me the meaning of the nightmare that I had been undergone into, that night meaning that it could have been a signal for me to save a precious life, that might have had been no more, if there was a delay of  even an hour!

       Not being going into further details as to how we brought up the puppy on its legs, after having given medical treatment and spoon feeding, to be precise, the puppy stood on three legs because left hind leg was squeezed and fell shorter than the right one, as a result of which, the puppy started walking funny. One month and a half had passed and by now, we had given puppy, a name, 'Kundu'!

       From December 2005 till August 2008. Kundu was already with us when our Son Vivek suddenly brought home a few days' old Labrador Puppy and left for Malaysia for an indefinite period. We very well knew that entry of another rival into the house was neither liked nor suited to Kundu. It was like two swords in one scabbard. We had to constantly watch Kundu's movements to ensure that it did not harm the new comer.

       Whenever Kundu had an encounter with the lab puppy roaming about in the lobby, it immediately ran after him growling and projecting open jaws and stretching its tongue inside out vigorously, trembling with raze and that was the crucial time when the lab puppy had to be protected and rescued from Kundu. As lab puppy grew, friendship between Kundu and lab developed slowly.

        A time came when both of them became fast friends and played, slept and sat together. Shortly,  lab puppy grew bigger, lightening active, beautiful, sturdy, creamy-white with lightest sparkling golden shade all over, with straight and sharp tail always in submission, who got a name from us as 'Danny'.

       Playful activities of both the pets were a source of our entertainment in the house and even for the visitors. Both the pets were so lovable that it became a talk of the town. Now, Danny was two years old and it attracted many dog loving people, some of them even dared to offer us handsome amounts of money for Danny. It, however, gave us severe surprised shock. Danny had become my friend who was well aware of my movements, actions and codes.

        He would accompany me wherever I went. Whenever, we were on the dining table, he would sit aside and watch us eye to eye. We both are alone in a big house and both Kundu and Danny were our companions who kept an alert eye day and night. Since we are vegetarian, Danny was unlucky to have received non  vegetarian feed. Sorry Danny!

       On one fateful morning, when I had gone to fetch milk in the neighborhood, I found Danny missing from the house on my return. On searching every nook and corner and expected places from where it could be found, Danny was no where to be seen. We were wondering as to where the dog can go within 15 minutes! Within no time, whole of Vikas Nagar and NFL Township area were physically searched shouting \for Danny but in vain. 

       Next day, Danny's  image posters were pasted every where and announcements were made on loud speakers offering an award of Rs 2,000/- whosoever gave us the clue about the whereabouts of our beloved Danny. But  till today, we are missing our Danny, the lovable dog companion!

       As if, it was not enough for us to live disheartened and under extreme mental suffering due to loss of Danny in the year 2014, one day, our dear Kundu also did not return home in the evening, till today increasing our agony manifolds!

       To add still more surprise shock, I may say that it was  already enough for our family to live under extreme mental stress due to loss of our dear family pet dogs Sheru, Danny and Kundu in the past, now that our beloved Roxi, a German Shephard, breathed his last in Feb 2018, again leaving all of us in  mental pain  and thereby increasing our agony manifolds! however, \in March 2018, a very young GSD puppy was brought home from Chandigarh and was given the name Roxy, who is now over two years old and have helped us forget the past!

                                                   A COLLAPSED DREAM

        In the year 1956-57, I was studying in the 6th class in the then High School, Nurpur, Kangra. Harbans Singh Katoch, a boy from Village Nagni, Bhadwar took admission in 6th class.  Both of us came closer and soon became friends.  We always used to sit together in the class and also go together where ever we went.  For the first few months Harbans used to up and down from Nagni which did not suit him and later he started to live in the school hostel within the school premises.  Harbans was then little shorter and fattier than me. He was also seen a little clever and intelligent as compared to me.

        During next two years, we grew and grew longer, tougher and understandable as well. It was the time when we had started  thinking about our future plans.  Though, it was too early for the school boys like us worrying about the future life, it still became a matter of highest priority and importance for both of us.  One day when I was with him at the hostel, I told Harbans that after leaving the school, I want to join the armed forces as an officer. 

\        On hearing this, Harbans also jumped into final conclusion and agreed with me and told me that perhaps he was also thinking on the same lines. From then on, we both determined to make all out efforts, after schooling, to join the armed  forces as commissioned officers and solemnly pledged ourselves for the same.

       In the year 1961, after completion of matriculation, we went our own ways and never met again until 20th July, 1974 at 9.30 AM, at a Military Headquarters in Pathankot! Before matriculation result, I was sent to my Chacha Udham Chandji at Jammu, so that instead of loitering aimlessly in the village, I might be put into a temporary job where at least I could be able to earn some money in order to meet my own expenses.  After having worked in a factory in Jammu for a period of three months, I was again in Village Ladori for a while, for preparation to leave for Bombay to my maternal uncle who was then serving in Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. as a Purchase Officer.  My uncle had promised my Dadi that he would take me to Bombay and help provide  a temporary apprentice job in any factory there.

        One day, it so happened that in Hattian, I met one of the old classmates Rameshwar Singh who is the relative of Harbans.  I inquired from Rameshwar about the whereabouts of Harbans, who in turn, told me that he had joined the Army as a Sepoy, a few months back and currently he is under recruit training. I asked Rameshwer with dismay as to why he joined the Army as a Recruit.  Rameshwar told me  that he had been advised by a very senior  serving army officer that he should not wait for any longer and waste time but straightaway join the Army as recruit.  

       There are more and bright chances for a serving soldier to apply for permanent commission.  I listened carefully and noted the point.  Being an under privileged and due to lack of proper guidance and financial support, the dream of joining Army as an officer was slowly fading away and I was now more worried about my settlement in any job.  As the question of my further studies in a college was already out, all my hopes and dreams now depended upon my job in Bombay.  However, the pledge that I and Harbans had taken together was still alive at the back of my mind.

        Subhash Chachaji received me at Bombay Central Railway Station and took straight to his house in Bandra where I stayed with the family for two days only.  Then I was taken to New Heaven Engineering Works at Andheri(East) and introduced to a very senior and impressive looking elderly, well dressed in whites, over six feet in height and soft spoken sikh engineer who straightaway provided me a helper's job on a monthly salary of Rs 50/-.  Next day, I was introduced to another boy.  I was to live in a Kholi that had been taken on rent at Jogeshwari.

         I reached Jogeshwari. It was a very small room of 8'x8' where five boys were already living!  Almost half the room was occupied by the baggage and utility items.  It was very difficult or impossible for six persons to sleep on the remaining floor, all huddled together, but there was no alternative except 2 or 3 persons could manage sleeping on the small varanda in summers.  Each and every individual had to prepare roti on one available oil stove, turn by turn, and then run fast to various work places.

        Meagre monthly salary of Rs. 50/- was not at all enough to live in Bombay even in those days.  It had become very difficult to make both ends meet and meet other daily expenses including medicines, room rent, rations, milk and vegetables.  Due to very poor living conditions with increasing tension of factory workload and lack of even minimum inescapable daily diet to survive, I fell ill and was admitted in JJ Hospital.  After having stayed in the hospital for nearly one and a half month, doctors recommended that I should not continue to stay in Bombay and that I must go home in order to gain health.

        I was back home in Ladori.  It was Jun-Jul 1963. Nothing had changed in Ladori and I again started feeling helpless and lonely in the village.  Frustration also began to overpower me resulting in a unknown fear of my taking to a wrong route.  Resulting, I was, this time, sent to Patiala to my Chhote Chachaji, Ishwer Chander Sharma, who was then serving in the Army as a Religious Teacher. I was sent to Patiala so that I may be able to improve my health.

         After having lived in Patiala for five months, my health had very much improved and I had started thinking of doing some job.  One day morning, I was standing on the roof of our quarter when I saw huge number of young village boys heading towards Cantonment Area.  I immediately came down on the road and inquired from one of the boys.  He told me that there was a Army Recruitment Mela in the Recruitment Office and that they are going there for recruitment in the Army.

        I came back down to the quarter.  Sat on a chair for a while and thought about my friend Harbans and his joining Army as a Sepoy.  Within no time, I was at the Recruitment Office without the knowledge of my Chachaji.  To  my surprise I was only a matriculate candidate among all the aspiring candidates.  I was recruited in the Army without any difficulty, as a clerk on 11 November 1963 and reached Bangalore for training.

     After recruit training, I was posted to a Military Headquarter in Pune in May 1965.  In Jun 1966, I was further posted to HQ Bombay Sub Area, Colaba, Bombay on my own request.  In early 1967, I applied for Commission in the Army but very sorry to say, that Brig Harpal Singh, the then Sub Area Commander, rejected my candidature right away, by saying that he did not like clerks to become commissioned officers in the army and that I should first change my trade from clerk to a general duty sepoy, then he would be the first person to help me grant commission in the Army!  What a misuse  of  an authority, the first recommending authority, which was not at all a final one! I missed the chance.

        In 1973 to 1975, I was posted in a Military Headquarters at Pathankot.  One day morning, at about 9.30 AM, I was busy with some official work.  My cap was hanging on the wall behind me.  I heard someone asking me about the office of a senior officer serving in our Headquarters.  I looked up.  I was stunned, numb, cold and yet perspiring.  Capt Harbans Singh Katoch was standing tall before me!  For a few seconds, I could not utter a words.

         My throat got dried and stuck.  Capt Harbans Singh Katoch first touched my shoulder and then shook hand with me.  I felt a strong grip, the grip that gave me a long awaited friendly touch, that I remember till today.  Soon Harbans left my office with a swift turn, with a promise to meet again very soon.  However,  We  never met  again till today!

        I could not sleep properly for a few nights after having seen my friend.  From next day onward, I started preparations, day and night, for applying for SL Commission.  Now that I had completed my 10 years active in the Army, I was eligible for applying for SL Commission in the Army.  Appropriate time for submission of applications for SL Commission came and I applied for two different posts, one for Record Officer and another application for  the post of Quartermaster.  After recommendations by the Sub Area Commander, the applications were sent forward to a high headquarter at Nagrota near Udhampur.

       A few weeks later, all the recommended candidates were present at Nagrota for final recommendations prior to Service selection board.  In the morning at 9 O' Clock, interview began.  My turn came at 11 AM.  First I was called for the post of Record Officer.  Lt Gen Khushwant Singh was the interviewing officer.  When I settled down in front of him on the chair, I was asked a question whether I had ever served in Record Office.  Being staff duty clerk, they are not posted in Record Office but they are doing the same official work in the Formation Headquarters, was the reply given by me. 

        The General said that 'when you have not served in the Record Officer, how you can become a Record Officer'.  Hence, not recommended.  In the afternoon, I was again called for another interview for the post of Quartermaster.  The General repeated same version and not recommended me for Quartermaster either.!  Laut ke Budhu Ghar ko Aye.

        Though there was one more chance for me to apply for SL Commission, I felt disheartened and made up my mind for applying for posting abroad.  The only condition was that one who applies for commission in the army, cannot simultaneously apply for posting abroad.  I finally chose to apply for posting abroad. I am not going into the details as to how I was finally selected for posting abroad which I have already mentioned somewhere in my earlier write-ups, I was posted to High Commission of India, Canberra (Australia).  Stayed there with family  for three years and posted back to a Military Headquarters at Jalandhar in 1983.

        It was my last and the only chance for applying for SL Commission.  I worked hard day and night, went to SSB Allahabad after having recommended by the intermediary authorities and performed outstandingly well as opined by the instructors and my batch colleagues there, and most importantly, by my own consciousness, later, at home, it was all shocking surprise.  I could not make it this time either!  A sweet dream collapsed and I also lost my school friend in the oblivion!

                                      KISHAN DYAL AND KAUSHALAYA DEVI

       Kishan Dyal and Kaushalya Devi were two children of Pujari of  Mandir Kalyanrai, Khajjan.  Since birth, Kishan Dyal was a feeble minded child.  It was apparent from his early childhood conduct that he would not be able to  take care of the landed property after his father.  So, it was decided to attach the land held  by the Pujari to Mandir Kalyanrai in order to secure both property and future of Kishan Dyal.

       Kaushalya Devi was married off to Puran Chand, elder son of Pandit Mallhu Ram of Ladori.  Puran Chand and Kaushalya Devi have four sons and a daughter.  Daughter Urmila is married to Om Prakash Shastri of village Indpur.  Writer, the eldest, Raman, Radha and Arun are the four sons who are well settled and living with their respective families.  Puran Chand left for his heavenly abode in March 1974 while Smt. Kaushalya Devi followed him on 27 July, 2000.

       After the demise of Head Pujari, Kishan Dyal became next Pujari and custodian of Mandir Kalyanrai and property attached to it.  Despite best efforts made by Manjhol family of Ladori in general and Kaushalya Devi in particular, Kishan Dyal never agreed for marriage.  He had been leading a lonely life all these years.  His behavior and general conduct, though not bad, had made him a laughing stock in and around the village.  The major problem with him had always been that he did not trust anyone on the earth and was not interested to listen to any good advice or suggestion from any well wishers like his sister and  her sons. 

       It was only because of his good for nothing nature and utterly foolish behavior that he lost everything.  Half of the mandir land has gone to the Mujaras {who actually cultivate the land}, under an act of government while the second half has been forcibly occupied by them as no one cared and listened to poor and hapless Kishan Dyal who is no more now!

       A still more clever immediate neighbourer of Kishan Dyal, Pancham Chand, who was then in a government service, far away in Old Himachal Pradesh, has also grabbed and occupied vast stretch of Khadyater land of Mandir Kalyanrai through a well planned and executed conspiracy with the connivance of local revenue officials showing himself as its Kashtkar taking advantage of the mental weakness of Kishan Dyal.  It may be pointed out that Khadyater land cannot be leased \out to a Kashtkar {who actually cultivate the land} for cultivation and that too to a government employee who, during all his service period lived away from Khajjan as far as  District Chamba.

       The writer's younger brother Arun has been looking after Kishan Dyal for the last many years and supporting him both financially and morally.  He had also constructed a house for him many years before his death.  Arun's efforts to retrieve the mandir land from unauthorized occupation of Mujaras as well as from Pancham Chand, have yielded results to some extent but some cases still require constant follow up.  I personally appeal to the respected senior residents of Khajjan, revenue officials, member Panchyayat  to co-operate with Arun Kumar Sharma and help him save Mandir Kalyanrai from likely ruins.
     

                                             BAADIES - THE WOODCUTTERS

          A small cluster of houses of Baadies is situated at Jharnuin adjoining Zaildare-da-Bagh between Upla Maira and Chikla Maira amidst green scenic landscape, overlooking Chhoti Dhar, on the bank of seasonal nullah, which is named after this hamlet as Baadian-da-Naal.  People of these baadies, as they say, originally belonged to a gipsy tribe whose main occupation was tree felling, sawing and blacksmithing.  It is said that they came to this part of the then East Punjab from Chittorgarh area of Rajasthan.

         They feel  proud to have been directly associated with Maharana Pratap, who provided their logistical support  to his army and worked as porters and carried out all kind of carpentry  and blacksmithing works like making of quality swords, dhaals and handy knives, khanjjars and kirpaans for Ranas of Rajasthan both in peace and war.

       After the demise of Maharana Pratap, a fistful of his lashkar and immediate followers, who were left behind, migrated to other parts of the country in search of livelihood.  One such large family reached Ladori.  On their arrival in the village, they had nothing to do but to carry on their ancestral work of tree felling.  But due to lack of sufficient work, it became extremely difficult for them to make both ends meet and they had to live in utterly poor conditions in thatched dwellings for years, working for others.

       With the passage of time, they were taken to cultivation on agricultural land on contract basis and rearing of domestic animals became their mainstay.  A few of them became owners of some agricultural land under an act of the government while few others acquired it through deeds. Now they live  in good houses fitted with water and electricity supply.  Most of them also own various types of basic consumer household items like radio, television, mixer-grinders, refrigerator, fans, furniture, LCD and various other decorative household items. Most of them also own two wheelers.  Children go to school while womenfolk work in fields.

       Milkhi Ram Baadi, an energetic, ambitious and confident  school drop-out guy of this community was elected Sarpanch of Ladori Khas Panchayat in early sixties.  Though out of work now, he is still going strong and never misses an opportunity to play petty politics.




     

 

       

                                     GADDI AND THE BHALLBHA MITTAR

        Social life in Ladori even in olden days, was good as interdependence for various domestic and community obligations was quite evident.  People of the village were ready to help each other even at a short notice.  This had greatly helped the villagers to find themselves in much easier going position especially during local functions like marriages, community langars, religious processions, last rites etc. etc.  Relations of my village Ladori with the adjoining smaller and less privileged hamlets were also very cordial and problems, if any, were solved amicably through dialogue and persuasive methods.

       Gaddi, a centuries old gipsy community of Himachal Pradesh and Bakarwals of J&K State, those who used to live in cold to extreme cold upper reaches of snow capped mountainous regions of these states, from the times immemorial,  used to rear goats and sheep for wool, milk and meat. These people used to come  downhill from upper Himachal, trekking long distances of mountainous terrain, during onset of winters along with their belongings and herds. 

        Majority of men folks stay back with their flock searching greener pastures on the upper reaches for grazing their animals. Such animal herds are generally escorted by two sturdy dogs who manage to keep the animals together in a jhund and not let any sheep, goat or their siblings stray away from the main flock. 

         Elderly male members, women and children of the family came down to predetermined villages and local families, carrying domestic loads including milk vessels on their backs, to stay in respective homes.  They generally worked as domestic help mostly in return of food, clothing and shelter. 

        These people used to be of immense help on occasions of social functions and marriages as they generally undertook a whole lot of works such as cutting and felling of dry trees, carrying of firewood on their backs, maintenance of houses with mud and cow dung paste, white washing, washing of clothes, preparation of dry rations and specially dhaan kutai in the Ookhal with the help of Mohla, ( a man size wooden balli of six inch diameter with a firm gripping in the middle, is forced struck continuously and rhythmically, sometimes by two gaddi women at a time, striking on the the dhaan grains in the Ookhal, one after the other)

       These tribes, many of them consisting of number of typically fashioned males, wearing gold ear rings, heavy  silver necklace, bracelets and rings with multicolor stone beads worn around the neck, singing, dancing, clapping and laughing, these heavily  ornamented and humorous natured people create  an all round atmosphere of jubilee and rejoicing. Sometimes even with distorted features and being doubly overweight, who always kept young and the old of the village, engaged in superfluous conversations, amused them with their jocularly  body language and repetitive titbits.

       O' yeah,  Bhallbha Mittar was one  among such jolly good old fellows, of huge built and bushy long hair all over his body, who had been to our village Ladori for more than 40 years.  He was very popular especially among the local children, particularly the writer!. He was very well known for eating 16 Kukarian-de-Tikkar (A thick and heavy  yellow cornflower hand made roti) at a stretch with Raab (residue, look alike darkest brown raw honey, that is generally used for preparing tambaku for Hooka smoking). 

        Sometimes Bhallabha was teased by the youngsters by saying that "Bhalbha mittar bhola, rotian khanda solah".  Bhallbha would roam about in the village asking for Kukarian-di-Roti  at select doors, while knitting wool with the help of his wooden takli and holding the wool ball under the armpit and cracking funny jokes. His made to order leather nailed jutti,  pre-soaked in sarson oil, gave musical sound while walking.  Jutti's tip leather lace, turned tightly backwards  over the jutti and sealed atop along with colorful woolly flower, gave a princely look!

        A metal bansuri (Flute) and a lighter for striking fire in an emergency, was always handy with Bhallbha Mittar kept stuck horizontally into his waist woolen dora. Bhallbha's all season dress was made of self woven and sewn woolen designer cloth, open front chola with full arms and Himachali cap.  Heavy gold ear rings and number of multicolor stone bead malas graced the personality of Gaddi youth. Moustaches of different shapes sharply curved upwards or down, added to their ethnic getup.

        At the waist, the wrapped black woolen thick dora, the 'chola' formed the shape of a short  multilayered skirt over the knees. \Black heavy woolen dora wrapped around the waist  helped them carry heavy loads  easily and comfortably on their backs during journey from one place to another.

        The beautiful young Gaddi women were more cautious of their dressing sense and makeover. However, sharp and curved eyebrows over the beautiful eyes and on the pinkish gora and beautiful face, of some of them, were responsible for attracting many heartthrobs towards them, though unintentionally! Gold, silver and stone ornaments were used to be their favorite choice. Various types of gold and silver rings studded with colourful coral stones were their fancy. 

       Though use of cosmetics was not popular among them but use of local herbs and pastes like multani mitti, was most common with these tribal women. Their long floral multi-layered cloth front open robe (chola) up to toes, light woolen dora wrapped around the waist, colorful full arms  designer and studded bodice ( choli), silver necklace, gold nose and ear rings, multicolor kaanch-ki-choorian, miniature,  artistic and intricate mindi-knit hair-do, with a silver pyramid type chownk, studded with sparkling stones, affixed on the head, attracted each and everyone who passed alongside. 

       While on the move from one place to another, most of gaddi women carry on their backs, a cone type long basket woven of cane  and colorful jute thread,  strapped around the shoulders, filled with some urgent small house hold items and sometimes  a new borne lamb could be seen held atop this unique basket.
 
       Old women of these tribal people wore beautiful, finally crafted ornaments which are no longer in fashion like several kilograms of heavy solid silver necklace, armlets, bracelets and anklets, gold nose rings held with the support of fine gold chains going round the right ear.  Wearing of, at a time, number of multi colored stone beads of different sizes and shapes, was a must for a well dressed gaddi woman in her traditional attire.

       One such woman, Sundroo, a tall, slim, gori, jolly good and matured gaddi woman was still more famous, known for her beauty, dressing sense, bright and loud makeup and for singing pahadi folk songs.  Her meticulously carved out Laung (Nose Pin) of pure gold, studded with precious red coral always attracted the attention of by-passers with its lashkara!

       Since government has had been trying  hard for the last many decades in order to uplift them and other tribes like Bakarwals, most of the youth and their families have given up old gipsy way of life and  rearing of sheep and other animal stock.  In order to join the main stream, they have  come down to plains and taken to education and  joining mainstream.

        Very many bakarwal and gaddi families now have completely switched over  to white collar jobs  and have also joined armed and para military forces. Most of the youth can be seen working in public administration, forest and education departments including that of government and private sector undertakings!

                                             OLD LADORI AND THE NEW

During 1930s and 40s, 'Hattian', in My Village Ladori was an important hub of imports & exports of various daily utility goods which were a 'must' and required for the human survival in remote hilly areas situated far and near of Ladori Village. In those days, 'Hattian' used to be a shoppers paradise and very few but select items of daily human, as well as cattle use, were sold here in abundance

       Though a tiny hilly village in isolation, which at present does not have a proper market except for very few small shop like huts, it is said that old Ladori was once a busy trading center during early pre-independence era and had a bazaar in the middle of the village as its commercial center which is now called 'Hattian' where mainly Tambaku, Raab, Gur, Rock Salt, Mustered Oil and khall-Binaula, Militia and Markeen Khaddar cloth were traded in bulk.

       Ever since District Kangra was annexed to Himachal Pradesh in mid seventies, it had always been a place of Government neglect and apathy for quite sometime. Now, a Senior Secondary School, Government Primary School, Civil Dispensary with MBBS Doctor, Fair Price Shop, Bank of Patiala Extension Counter, Gram Panchayat with village Pradhan, Sub Post Office  and Government run Sewing Centre for women are some of the public institutions in the village. Smalltime agriculture, collection of wild fodder and firewood from the nearby woods of Choti Dhar direct behind the village and rearing of milch animals had  been the main preoccupation of the old timers.

       Now things have undergone great change due to revolutionary enlightenment spread out by the television, mobile phone, internet and social media wiping out hurdles of long distances of rugged mountainous terrains between the masses and  helped  bring them  close, on the touch of fingertips.  Pucca roads connecting with the rest of Himachal Pradesh.

         Intellectual openness, enlightenment and  lightening awareness of the new generation and the generation next, resulting in taking keen interest in modernity, advancement and heading towards cities  and other countries, in search of higher education, better avenues and opportunities, despite the fact that getting admission in academic and business schools and colleges of repute, is no more an easy task any longer,  anywhere in the country and beyond, without the sharp competition and continuous self updating.

       So far as the question of country's defense is concerned, Ladori has till now produced over 30 armed forces officers who have had served and are serving the country in both peace and war and the tradition still continues. In the field of technology and know-how, the children of Ladori are not behind as the village has produced number of engineers and business administrators serving in the corporate world within the country and abroad.

        Write's daughter, son and daughter-in-law, three of them are MCA and MBAs and are presently working as senior professionals in multinationals. My Village Ladori is also proud to have Shri Rakesh Pathania S/O Col Kahan Singh Pathania, who is presently serving the State being Sports, Youth Affairs and Forest Minister in the Himachal Pradesh Government.

 
       Influence of western culture trickling down to village levels,  has further kindled the quest for better living standards with all  required amenities such as mobile phone, LCD, LED television, computers, lap tops, cooking gas, washing machines, costly and standard kitchen gadgets, uninterrupted super water and electricity connections and fixtures  in the house, hygienic and beautiful washrooms, interconnected paved pathways up to door steps, well-knit drainage  system and overhead street lights, and well built beautiful designer cozy homes,  furnished  with luxury furniture and drapes, with more than three  bed rooms or in some cases four to six rooms in a double story pucca houses!

      

 

                                           LADORI AND THE JABBAR KHAD.

         Ladori, a small Himachali Village in Tehsil Nurpur, Distt. Kangra, is situated at approximately tweleve kilometers north of historic town of Nurpur  in the foot hills of magestic dhauladhar mountain ranges, which are popularly known as Hathi Dhar and Choti Dhar. While these mountain ranges are scantly but densely covered with khair, scented pine and fragrant cedar forests in the north, a skyline of Himalayan  snow capped peaks overlooks the village from far northeastern horizon.

        The all weather sweet water Jabbar Khad flows in a zig zag manner on a rocky bed through down deep narrow gorge created by its seasonal gushing currents over the centuries gone by. This khad can be considered as the lifeline of the villages and hamlets situated on its banks.

       At Village Ladori, the Khad flows at a stone's throw distance deep downwards from the human habitat. One has to trek up and down carefully on the stony track to and from the rivulet. While passing through the village, one can see that the khad has fondly been nicknamed as Upli Jabbar and the Chikly Jabbar. Upli Jabbar is generally frequented by Pathanias (Mians) as it falls within their easy reach on their side of the village.

        During rainy season, Jabbar is swollen to its fullest capacity and bring along with it whatever came its way, be it logs, uprooted trees or for that matter hapless cattle caught unaware in the current. Even being a hilly rivulet, Jabbar Khad has not ever caused much damage to the villages and clusters falling within its reach.

      'Atte-da-Bagh',  with rare varieties  of regional desi mango trees, ponds of crystal clear and refreshing cool water, cascading waterfalls, green foliage all around, playing and chirping of various species of birds, biggest and the smallest being the Mor (Peacock) and Pidu, smallest of the birds found in Ladori, affectionally called in pahari dialect as  Piddu, Pida or Pidi, respectively, colorful smartian butterflies playing on wild flowers, a solitary peacock crying at the far end of the Khadyater Meadow, goats and sheep along with their siblings enjoying grazing on ever green thorny 'garna' and 'maliyar' bush leaves.

    'Shiv Doala' under an old huge Arjuna Tree, hanuman mandirs and number of huge and centuries old Barr, Plakh and Peepal trees grace the clean and ever fresh environment here.

      Chikly Jabbar is mainly visited by both men and women folks of brahmins and others. The eye catching scenery, water falls, springs of warm water, built up bath rooms, sprawling ancient mango groves, lush green hillocks all around, village cattle herds resting under the cool shade of mango trees while village shepherd trying to tune up his improvised flute (Gangojoo), groups of monkeys fly jumping from one tree to another, intermittent barking noise of Kakkar{wild dear}, far away, up in Charoa, a popular place where few local families live from time immemorial, amidst huge mango groves.

        In Chikly Jabbar, clean, cool and fresh breeze attract people of all ages to this panoramic spot. Women and children from the other side of Chikly Jabbar, a cluster of hamlets situated straight up on a high ground from the Jabbar Khad at Charoa stretching towards Meharka, another small hamlet of locals, also used to come down here for taking drinking water for themselves and their cattle.