God knows whose evil eye fell upon my beloved mountains, that they were ripped apart in this tragedy. I could feel deep inside me the physical and the mental agony of the people of Uttarakhand, and I was trying my best to combat, however possible, to solve all these problems. Anyhow, I have never learnt to accept defeat, yet the helplessness I felt in these circumstances left me trembling. Some of the unrest I felt at that time, are still fresh in my mind. Perhaps, for some people, these may be mere words printed on paper, but I know the flood of anguished emotions that is enveloping me as I write about my memories, is as painful as ever.
The pain of seeing Uttarakhand destroyed in this disaster was implanted so deep within my heart that in the desire to heal it, I didn’t care about the scorching heat, or be scared by the pouring rain, or worry about the broken roads& pathways, or the frequent landslide. Somewhere, the entire ground would sink and at other places debris from the hills would fall right in front of our vehicle. At places we crossed booming waterfalls, and at others we faced rickety bridges. We would not even realise when night fell, but our steps didn’t stop. In such a time, how could I think of not visiting Sumgarh? I told my officer that despite any adverse circumstances, and by any means, we must prepare to go to Sumgarh.
About the Author
Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal is one of the highly accomplished writers who has perceived the essence of Indian culture and lifestyle sensitively and even penned it down effectively. He was attracted to nature’s wonder since childhood. The beauty of pristine river from the hills to colourful flowers, tall mountains and snow inspired him to come up with several literary miracles. Everyone liked his stories & poems, which encouraged him, to go further in this field.
During college days, Nishank got acquainted with the social diversity which deepened his interest in literature. Although his passion and ambition to pursue teaching and establish himself as a successful politician, he never allowed the writer within him stifle and exterminate forever.
This unique selection of stories also comprises of Nishank’s experience from the society and his sensitiveness. Right from ‘Just One Wish’ to ‘Crowd is Witness’, and ‘Another Vacant Bed’, all stories penned by this gifted writer inspire readers to get a new perspective of the society. These stories are yet simple and written in lucid script language will definitely going to touch your heart deeply. –This text refers to the hardcover edition.
