A Stream of Country

 The train ride into Dehradun was exceptional. I got to ride through much of the Northern India countryside seeing the people, the overtaking foliage, the terrain… and the pollution. Man, I knew about the slums and I knew about the problem with the accumulation of trash in India but I was not prepared for it. Trash is absolutely everywhere that there is any human populace within 20 miles.

 I started reading a book called “Still Life with Woodpecker” by Tom Robbins and as I was riding, one quote stuck out to me. It read, “People who sacrifice beauty for efficiency get what they deserve”. Now, I hate to sound like I’m judging India or anything for that matter but I couldn’t shake the cons of industrialism, especially in a country that has been in the fast lane of industrialism for the past century or so. It’s effects scream out of the landscape of the country (Northern India). I also had a rather uneasy thought in my head as the train flew by the passing villages, slums, and cities: ‘If this train were to strike someone… I don’t think it would stop’. A metaphor for the world’s current path.

I arrived in the Hanifl Center around late afternoon the other day and was immediately welcomed with open arms by the students here. Dr. Alter was more than kind, and accommodating to me off the train.

I don’t want this blog to turn into an every day, every moment record of the things I do but I do want it to record specific thoughts and events that stick out.

Awaiting my train to Dehradun

One of the first small towns to come into view.

Trash strewn about the water systems. You wonder why all the tap water here is tainted.

:/

Torrential downpour upon climbing the base of the Himalayas; heavy flooding.

Climbing up to the Hanifl Center... almost there.