Msg from Bishan Dewan, with photos of Darjeeling Toy Train from Mr Lobo and Bishan
Siliguri, May 5: You may have had a hearty laugh while manoeuvring a sharp turn along NH55 — yellow signs like “Better Be Late Mr Motorist Than The Late Mr Motorist” or “Divorce Speed If You Are Married” cautioned you rather humourously against the speedy drive.
Now you will see these famous yellow signs — more than 70 in number and faded over the years — freshly painted in the same colour thanks to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society (DHRS), the UK-based association of toy-train lovers.
“These road signs are interesting and have bedecked the DHR route along NH55 since ages. They were a source of amusement for toy-train lovers while taking a ride either up to Darjeeling or down to Siliguri,” said Vivek Baid, a member of the DHR India Support Group — the Indian chapter of the DHRS.
The signs, some of which date back to pre-Independence period, warned the drivers of sharp turns, crossings, Z-reverses and loops, which lay ahead during the 80km journey between Darjeeling and Siliguri.
These signs have also found place in the UK when the DHRS recreated stations like Sukna there. They introduced fridge magnets of these signs to raise money for community services last year.
“DHRS members David Barrie and Neil Knowdden were dismayed to see the condition of these signs and came forward to re-paint them. The PWD department was supposed to maintain these signs,” Baid added.
The signs like “Don’t Fly But Ply” and “Hurry Burry Spoils The Curry” cheer up first-time travellers who are jittery of the twists and turns of the uphill drive.
The signals start from Sukna and dot the roads right up to Darjeeling. We have finished work on 50 signs and 25 more remain to be painted,” he added.
Peter Tiller, the conservation-architect of the DHRS, provided the list of phrases that he had jotted down during his frequent trips to Darjeeling. “Some signs had faded, but thanks to Peter Tiller, we were able to write them again. No new additions have been made though,” Baid said.
Msg from Sir, Mr Lobo
I have a folder with a collection of DHR locomotives. It may take time to download so I will send them if you choose to request the folder.
I travelled so often on this engineering feat , now heritage listed, that I relive certain spots.
There have been changed e.g. Steam Engines are used for short tourist runs, Darjeeling to Ghoom and back (10 miles in all) otherwise diesel engines haul visitors and hanger-ons once a day.
These Road signs make the 50mile trip ( 6 hours ++) most enjoyable.
I try and get my hands on the signs.
Puffing Matt, chugging along !
Mr Lobo,
Yes, very much interested in looking at your collection of the DHR train pics.
Your mention of the "toy" train" has jogged long forgotten memories of GMS days. The memories I have of the DHR toy train are connected to our occasional 'bunk' to town. Running alongside and hopping on to the moving down train as it slowed down at the GMS siding was an activity I shared with a group of equally "thrill seeking" peers, who Bro Cahill 'fondly' labelled as "those wicked boys!". The sheer joy of 'hanging' on to the compartment door handles and trying to impress the Maharani school girls was definitely a risk worth taking. Naturally, a sense of bravado far outweighed the risk of being caught by a prefect and the possibility of an ignominous end in Pinky's office. Getting on to the train was a "piece of cake" compared to getting off. Exiting a moving train required talent which was derived from much practice which we boarders lacked. The principle was to jump off with the feet moving as fast or faster than the moving train! I now suspect that the train driver always knew there were some GMS babas on board and derived great pleasure in not slowing down as we entered Kurseong town. I remember an occasion stumbling and going down on all fours in front of a large crowd of cinema goers at the Plaza cinema hall. I can't remember which hurt more; the embarrassment or the loss of some skin from my knees along with some grey worsted material from my trousers. Those were the days...
I'v attached a couple of photos of the DHR taken during the GMS Centenary.
Bishan
Msg from Ashok Mirchandani, (North Point)
Dear Radhe,
No need to worry yourself after the miseries of the heat and politicians, and the heat generated by them, with a so called magical powerpoint that impresses at first sight, but has been doing the global e journey since five years. Change your mindset and study all the cards instead of the one you chose. You will realise that the next set has all the cards changed, including the ones you selected. Why not apply this rule to politicians?
Have a nice week.
Ashok
ASHOK R. MIRCHANDANI, PHF+8, Major Donor
$200 Million Zone (20A French Africa) Challenge Coordinator. 2008-2010
African Regional Polio Plus Committee. Vice-Chairman 2006-2010
Benin National Polio Plus Commission. Chairman 2004-2010
Rotary District 9100 Polio Plus Chairman 2007-2010
Polio Survivors & Associates - RAG, Director
EN FINIR AVEC LA POLIO
END POLIO NOW
Dear Ashok,
Thanks for solving the mystery.
I was just wondering how that chap could read our minds.
Yes, I wish the same could be applicable on our politicians.
Let us see.
After, the Mumbai blasts, people's awareness and disgust with politicians has increased a thousand fold which they are manifesting through the internet and various other media.
Now, if this energy could be channelised into votes for honest candidates, we can say the Mumbai has brought two great benefit to India.
The first one is that at last Pakistan has been put on the back foot by the USA and is being forced to take action on the Frankenstein which they created, Taliban.
But India's problems never seem to end.
Now we have newer problems in the south (Sri Lanka Tamils) and Nepal (the Mao and Army spat).
Radheshyam
Msg from Rina Lawrence, Loreto
Hi Radheshyam
I do enjoy reading your emails though I don’t know how I got on to it! In view of your latest subject matter, I thought you might be interested in this upbeat letter to the New York Times someone sent to me :
Quote
“From: Kennedy Correia [mailto:correiak@googlemail.com]
Sent: 03 May 2009 19:08
To: RINA LAWRENCE
Subject: The greatest show on earth
New York Times reader comment on India going to the polls, "The world's biggest exercise in democracy"
April 15, 2009 It is truly the greatest show on Earth, an ode to a diverse and democratic ethos, where 700 million + of humanity vote, providing their small part in directing their ancient civilization into the future. It is no less impressive when done in a neighborhood which includes de-stabilizing and violent Pakistan, China, and Burma.
Its challenges are immense, more so probably than anywhere else, particularly in development and fending off terrorism -- but considering these challenges and its neighbors, it is even more astounding that the most diverse nation on Earth, with hundreds of languages, all religions and cultures, is not only surviving, but thriving.
The nation where Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism were born, which is the second largest Muslim nation on Earth; where Christianity has existed for 2000 years; where the oldest Jewish synagogues and Jewish communities have resided since the Romans burnt their 2nd temple; where the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile reside; where the Zorostrians from Persia have thrived since being thrown out of their ancient homeland; where Armenians and Syrians and many others have to come live; where the Paris-based OECD said was the largest economy on Earth 1500 of the last 2000 years, including the 2nd largest only 200 years ago; where 3 Muslim Presidents have been elected, where a Sikh is Prime Minister and the head of the ruling party a Catholic Italian woman, where the President is also a women, succeeding a Muslim President who as a rocket scientist was a hero in the nation; where a booming economy is lifting 40 million out of poverty each year and is expected to have the majority of its population in the middle class, already equal to the entire US population, by 2025; where its optimism and vibrancy is manifested in its movies, arts, economic growth, and voting, despite all the incredible challenges and hardships; where all the great powers are vying for influence, as it itself finds its place in the world.
Where all of this is happening, is India, and as greater than 1/10 of humanity gets ready to vote, it is an inspiration to all the World.
V Mitchell, New York, NY”
Unquote
Be proud to be an Indian.....then work to make things better ...Jai Ho..
Rina Lawrence
Hari Om Rina,
Thanks for your inspiring mail.
Yes, it does make us proud.
Just imagine where our country could have reached if we had more
honest politicians.
I suppose it is our culture which treats a guest as a God, we say
"athithi devo bhawa", wherein we have welcommed people of all religion
and races with open arms.
The letter by V Mitchell is worth reprinting in all our papers.
I am sending it forward, with your permission.
Regarding your getting into my mailing list, I'll explain.
You must be from Loreto.
I am from Goethals, passed in 1965.
I am trying to keep all the Darjeeling schools in our blog circuit.
I got your ID from one of you girls when we were having an argument on
conversions.
I have been sending you all, mails ever since.
I think one or two of you may have asked to be removed from the mailing list.
I have done that.
I try to keep all the others informed of developments in India.
Do keep writing.
Your mails act as moral boosters.
Cheers,
Radheshyam
Thanks Radheshyam
I would have left Loreto Darjeeling maybe 1964/64, but my parents took me
out of there when I was 11 and sent me to school in England! I am still in
touch with friends from Loreto and, in fact, we have a Loreto Society in
London and meet at least once a year for a great luncheon - curry naturally,
at the Bombay Brasserie (I live near Heathrow)
The letter from the mysterious V Mitchell is definitely worth forwarding on
and it would be great if you could get it reproduced in some, if not all, of
the wider circulation Indian papers. It would be good for the general
public and the politicians to realise and remember what a wonderful and
unique country they belong to and to stop inter-racial and inter-religious
and revive Gandhi's dream of a true multicultural society, where everyone
can live in peace, side by side
Take care
Rina
Msg from Peter Barber
David Copperfield can only blow your mind if you have one !
Hi Radeshyam - as always your emails and updates are welcome and greatly appreciated. However, the David Copperfields of this world also appreciate that most people take THEIR word for it and will automatically react with amazement and wonder because human nature will always 'trust' first before mistrusting. Go back to the cards - carefully check those in the first row - now scroll down to those in the second row - find anything of the first row ? so how do you expect to find your choice missing when it wasn't there in the first place? Have also sent this back to Keith pointing it out.
Cheers! and keep them coming
Peter
Msg from Safiul Huda
Radheshyam:
It is the civic duty of a citizen to voice concern and point out corruption and deceit of politicians. So I am glad you have the strength of character to do so.
Unfortunately, politicians are really not that different here. Their corruption is different. Being, on average, better heeeled through life, they go for the big bucks or for other things. Most of it is motivated by a desire to get re-elected. And they'll bend all decency and truth to do so even while sprouting high-sounding bromides ad infinitum. It gets to be quite disgusting.
Thanks for posting my skiing piece and even more thanks for saying you enjoyed it. Here too we had a spate of very high, unseasonable temperatures -- in the 90's [30's in Centigrade] and now it has cooled to 50's [low,low teens in C].
Spring is here. There is a riot of blooms everywhere and new leaves are covering trees, bushes, shrubs. The grass too is growing and I cannot put off mowing any longer especially since the neighbors started more than three weeks ago. When I did not pay attention to my studies my parents used to say "What will you do? Ghaash kaatbi?" That's precisely what has come to pass!
Saf/Safi/safiul
Safi,
Here in India, the milkman will pay you money when they ask for permission to cut grass from your compound as fodder for their cows.
They are really surprised when told that abroad, they are paid to cut grass from the compounds.
On Sunday, we had a good thundersquall. Trees were uprooted, advt hoardings were torn off like paper and the temperature came down about 5 deg. My wife just stood in the rain to cool the pricklys which had developed all over the back.
I normally take ice cubes in a tiffin box and tell my wife to rub the box on my back.
It brings immediate relief.
From yesterday, it has started heating up again.
Tomorrow, we are having the second stage of the elections in Bengal.
Let us see how many people die.
I am placing all my hopes on Swami Ramdeo.
Let us hope he is able to clean up Indian politics.
India is a great country, with very good culture and work ethics (except Bengal). If only our politicians could be more honest, you cannot imagine what heights India could reach.
Lets hope for the best.
Cheers.
Radheshyam
Msg from Vanessa Wasta
Dear Sir,
The information posted on your blog at http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/2009/05/some-facts-on-cancer.html on May 4, 2009 describing a "Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins" is a hoax that has been circulating the Internet for many years. There are several email hoaxes being circulated and incorrectly attributed to Johns Hopkins - one containing information completely fabricated about cancer prevention strategies and another which pertains to plastics and dioxins. Both of these were NOT published by Johns Hopkins. We address this hoax in statements on Johns Hopkins web sites and the most recent one is located at:
http://www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org/index.cfm/cID/1684/mpage/item.cfm/itemID/1016 You also can find this information on snopes.com and truthorfiction.com Please remove the fraudulent information from your blog immediately.
Thank you,
Vanessa Wasta
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
Dear Ms Wasta,
Thank you for your mail.
I have posted the rejoinder from the site you mentioned on our blog and have left it to our readers to decide what they think best.
I am sure, you agree, that cancer is such an ailment and the cure is so expensive that prevention would be better than the cure.
Since you and Johns Hopkins too would be interested I would request you to have a look at the cures which our own Swami Ramdeo has done on cancer.
His cures are all documentated.
Johns Hopkins could also study his methods and see if they work.
However, you must work with an open mind.
Best regards
Radheshyam Sharma
No comments:
Post a Comment