By Donisha S Basaiawmoit
Ganesh Saili’s Wanderings through the Garhwal Himalaya is a delicious slice of his vast collection of books. Born and brought up in the hills of Mussoorie, Saili dives back into his roots by going on a journey to ‘the very mountains’ that his father had ‘struggled to get away from’.
As the book title suggests, Ganesh Saili takes us on a journey into the magnificent Himalayan mountains. Through this collection of anecdotal essays and a narrative gallery of pictures, the author vividly portrays the Himalayan region and its mysteries. One would be enthralled by the intimacy of the author with the history and culture of each and every corner of Garhwal which the author described as “a place where every little nook and cranny, cave, rivulet or brook, is dedicated to some sage or saint, who happened to be fond of the area”. He takes us through centuries of historical records, structures, art and legends of the place.
The book captures in detail the spirit of the Himalayan grandeur. Every chapter trails the author’s experiences in the valleys of the mountain ranges where he met and encountered various people and discovering their different cultures. From traditions and history to superstitions and hauntings, Saili covers all in the book. For anyone who is not well versed or ignorant of the secluded mountainous regions, a glance of this book would open up to them a whole new realm of the Indian subcontinent. The topography of the area does play a major role in what makes it a whole new level of diverseness that this country is. Its scenic beauty is however not the only thing the Himalayan region has to offer.
Saili’s poetic narration of the places especially of nature in and around the Himalayas takes the reader on a virtual expedition to the ranges. It would be fair to say that he has woven a fascinating web in which one would not mind being caught. He describes even the most mundane thing with such vibrancy. His poetic language captures the romanticism in his surroundings just as he describes the Yamuna as “the dark sister of the Ganga” into which spun “a sun-silvered stream” which gushes “through chasms on a long journey to the plains of northern India”.
It is also interesting how he animates a phenomenon common in the ice-capped mountain ranges — “It certainly was not his day. Shrieking like a monster the wind lashed the mountains white with its cat-o’-nine-tails…Suddenly, with a resounding snap, it tipped. First a rumble, then a roar, growing louder into a wail-the echo of an avalanche”.
Again, as mentioned, the Himalayas have much to offer besides their aesthetic appeal. The book reveals the intricate details of the region. Saili gets into the lives of the inhabitants of the places that he visited. The book imparts onto the readers knowledge of the people and their way of living and how they survive in a beautiful yet difficult terrain. But the secluded nature of the area is ideal for tourists who wish to “run away from it all”; it is a perfect getaway for those who seek solidarity or just a break from everyday life. It is most ideal for those who seek adventure. And after having read this Ganesh Saili piece, anyone would be convinced to pack their bags.
Besides being a tourist attraction, Garhwal is also an important pilgrimage site which adds to its rich heritage.
The region witnesses hundreds of pilgrims each year from all over the country who travel to sacred places like Haridwar, the Sikh shrine of Hemkund, etc, to fulfil their spiritual quest. Saili maintains sanctity in his account of the religious destinations and of the pilgrims devoutly on their venture to connect with their creator.
The mountain not only provides sustenance to the people but also to the beautiful flora and fauna some of which are indigenous to the region. Saili has captured these beautifully in the pictures that cover every page in the book adding to the aesthetic elements of the book. It is also appealing to the readers to flip through pages of breathtaking photographs that tell a tale on their own.
As we come towards the end of the book, we see more of hill stations which were favourites of the British in the colonial era. The book beautifully portrays the rich historical background of places like Mussoorie which is the author’s hometown.
Wanderings through the Garhwal Himalaya is not just a travelogue but a testimony of the author’s love for the place and a mirror of the spectacular summit in its purest form and of nature so fierce and unapologetic.
Book: Wanderings through the Garhwal Himalaya; Author: Ganesh Saili;
Publisher: Niyogi Books; Pages: 241; Price: Rs 750