Volume 33 Issue 5 November 2008

Travelogue Following BillionFootsteps Continued –Kunming,Yunnan Province, ChinaThe rest of the gate is covered with messagesin garish colored Chinese characters. In thehuge market next door, ducks are strung andhung out to dry for hundreds of Peking duckrestaurants in the area.The Stone Forest of Kunming is a geologicDr. Bakul Banerjee“Bakul, since you are so passionate aboutmarvel. During the carboniferous period of theseeing the world, what would be yourPaleozoic era, this area was submerged underfavorite place?” One of my colleagues askedtheocean.Later,as theme recently.land heaved up anddown,thewater“Of course, it is the Yunnan province of China.” I diddrained off. Limestonenot have to think much to answer him. This region ofhillsformedandSouthwest China has high mountains, majestic rivers,erosionscreatedaand human history, both political and spiritual, that is,forest made of darkeverything that I seek out in my journeys. Of course,stone spires coveringdecent facilities for creature comforts are readilyabout 350 square mileavailable here.area.TheparkisOn April 22, 2006, an Airbus 309 transported us fromteaming young Yi menLhasa, Tibet to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuanand women in fullprovince. Although we had some non-descript snacksethnic costumes. Theyin the airplane, Allison, our tour director, guides us toare happy to pose withPhoto Courtesy: Google andan airport restaurant for lunch. I believe that wheneverthe tourists in many carefullywww.chinahighlights.comtour directors have to deal with complexities likedesigned spots. One suchgetting out of Tibet and associated restrictions, theyspot is the Sword Peak Pond. Our guide narrates the legenddistract their group members with food. Almostof Ashima, the young Yi woman who was kidnapped and diedeverybody liked the idea of having one last Sichuanfighting against marrying the son of the clan lord. It is said thatmeal loaded with fresh vegetables. The ever presentshe returned as a stone and her sighs can be heard echoingrevolving rack on the table loaded with many dishes isthrough the rocks. One of the formations near the pond has anmoving in front of me. As I hesitate about the idea ofuncanny resemblance of a Yi girl with a typical two-pointed hat.tackling the very long noodles, resembling a bunch ofIn the afternoon, our destination is the cluster of temples on Xisquiggly eels, the server comes to my rescue and cutsShan or Western Hills, overlooking the beautiful Dian Chi or Lakethem up. I have never seen such a variety of pickledDian. The tour bus makes a small detour to follow the famedvegetables including pickled jicama.Burma Road for a short time. During World War II, this road wasThe flight from Chengdu to Kunming, our first stop inbuilt hastily by the British army in the wake of the Japanesethe Yunnan province, is short. As we weave throughinvasion of Indochina. The story of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bosethe crowded streets to our destination, the Bank Hotel,and the Indian National Army crosses my mind. The Burma RoadI am impressed by the couriers carrying enormousbrought significant prosperity to the region. Catering to theflower arrangements, precariously balanced on theirgroup, our guide talks about the legends of Flying Tigers,wobbly bikes. Kunming means the City of Eternaldaredevil aviators, who brought supplies to the area from India.Spring, named so because of its year round temperateDuring the war, resorts on the shores of Dian Chi were used byweather. It is also the sound of the name of an ancientrecuperating by the British army. Now they are simply used bytribe who resided there during early Han Dynasty (205rich golfers.BC). It is easy to sense that this bustling city isWestern Hills is composed of a series of temples built over manyexpanding at a tremendous rate. We spend rest of thecenturies. Wu Laiqing, an eighteenth century monk, built theafternoon roaming the city streets, watching peoplelast series of temples and grottos decorated with beautifulreturning home from work and school or doing Tai Chipaintings and sculptures to honor the revered Goddess Guanyineverywhere by the streets.and others. The topmost section of the temple hangsNext morning, we head toward Shilin or the Stoneprecariously high above the Lake Dian.Forest, located in the Yi Nationality AutonomousOne of the most significant archeological finds discovered inCounty. Approximately 75 mile long drive isKunming is the Dali Sutra Pillar. It is the highlight of our visit topunctuated by multiple interesting stops with restroomthe Kunming City Museum. The dynamic nature of the pillarand snack breaks.decorated with a ring of animated Buddhas holding a ball,The central city district of Kunming is of particularsymbolizing the universe, reminds me of the energetic sculpturalinterest to me. Before arriving here, I learned thattechniques of Illora, India. It is quite unlike the sculptures Ithere is a large population of Yilig Muslims in Kunminghave seen so far in China. The famous Dharani Mantra iswho migrated here with Kublai Khan. However, I amsculpted at the base of the octagonal pillar.surprised by the large ancient mosque in the cityIt is time to say goodbye to the City of Eternal Spring. Prayingcenter. Peaking through one of the narrow alleyways, Ifor a safe journey, I repeat the Dharani Mantra:spy the sight of a beautiful, but very much neglectedscript written in Persian style, engraved on the top of aclosed gate. It is probably something from Quran.Slightly defying the instructions of our tour guide, I run“NAMO SAPTANAM SAMYAKSAMBUDDHA KOTINAM. TADYATHA:away for a minute and manage to take a picture of thisOM! CALE, CULE, CUNDI SVAHA!”unique piece of history.4

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It was composed by the Sage Vishwamitra, a Kshatriyawho attained Brahminhood by dint of his 'tapasyaa' or penanceand meditation. The hymn has been translated by many scholarsincluding the great German scholar Max Muller. According to theinterpretation of Aacharya Saayan,the great Vedic scholar ofIndia in the 14th century, the Gayatri Mantra can be translatedas follows: "We meditate on the Resplendent Supreme Beingwho is worshiped by all and who gives guidance to our Intellectin all our actions." This sacred hymn is recited in worshipping allgods and goddesses. Its importance can never be adequatelyemphasized.i m e¡C - "nË Al h¾c ' - Ae¿¹ O¡op œ²u l¡S e aL LjÑd¡l¡ J ç hfÔh c ml pwOV Ll i jL¡ b L, Ni l BdÉ¡ aÈLa¡l f b fË hn -- Hje OVe¡ fª bh a M hC hlm z nË Al h¾c O¡ ol S h e, flhaÑ L¡ m k e Sej¡e pnË Al h¾c e¡ j pj dL f l Qa q u R me, a¡C O V Rm z a e R me ü cn k Nl A NÀj ¿»l AeÉaj Ec³¡a¡, j¡eh LmÉ¡ZhËa , L h, c¡nÑ ZL, h nø Q¿¹¡e¡uL J k¡N nËù z SeÈ --1872 MË ø¡ë, LmL¡a¡ jq¡eNl a zehÉ f¡ÕQ¡šÉ i¡hd¡l¡u Ae l¡N fa¡ L«o·d el BNË q, j¡œ 7 hRl hu p, nr¡l SeÉ c C ANË Sl p ‰ hm¡a k¡e J pM¡ e 14 hRl AhÙb¡eL le z é’, m¡ ae J NË L i¡o¡u L jËS hnÄ hcÉ¡mu b L 1j nËZ l"VÊ¡CfpÚ' m¡i L le z C äu¡eÚ p imÚ p¡ iÑpÚ fl r¡u Eš ZÑ qe, L¿¹ AnÄ¡ l¡qZ fl r¡ c a ApÇja qJu¡u Q¡L l a j e¡e a qe e¡ z fa¡lp¡ qh u¡e¡ J 14 hRl hm¡ah¡p ay¡l S h e L¡ e¡ fËi¡h hÙ¹¡l Ll af¡ le¡ z hm¡ a b¡L¡L¡m eC ay¡l j dÉ cM¡ cu ü cn Q¿¹¡ J pM¡ e a e HL V ç hfÔh cm N s a¡ me z 1893 p¡ m c n g l H pfËb j h l¡c¡ L m Sl AdÉ¡fL J f l AdÉr ek š² qe z HM¡ eC a ejq¡l¡ øÊl hfÔh ea¡ W¡L l p¡ q hl pwØf nÑ B pe J ï¡a¡ h¡l ¾cÊL j¡l Lf¡W¡e h¡wm¡u ç hfÔh cm N s a m a z 1905 p¡ ml "h‰i‰' B ¾c¡m ep œ²ui¡ h k¡N c a h l¡c¡ L m Sl AdÉr fc aÉ¡N L le z 1906-HehfË a ùa eÉ¡nÚe¡mÚ L mS-H AdÉ rl fc NËqZ L le J Cw l S c eL"h ¾cj¡aljÚ' f œL¡l pÇf¡ce¡l L¡S ee z I f œL¡u LR l¡S â¡qj§mLfËhå fËL¡ nl SeÉ J B mf l h¡j¡l j¡jm¡l AeÉaj Bp¡j l f hË VnÚplL¡l ay¡l hl Ü A i k¡N B e J a e B mf l S m L¡l¡l Ü b¡ Le z cnhå Qšl”e c¡p, Al h ¾cl f r H j¡jm¡ f lQ¡me¡ L l ay¡ L j š²L le zB mf l S m c OÑ HL hRl b¡L¡L¡m e Al h ¾cl Q¿¹¡d¡l¡u HL hl¡Vf lhaÑe cM¡ cu J a e j¡eh pj¡ Sl hªqšl LmÉ¡ Zl m rÉ, BdÉ¡ aÈL Jc¡nÑ ZL Q¿¹¡l f b ANËpl qe z h iæ pj u Cw l S f œL¡ "påÉ¡', "k N¡¿¹l',"LjÑ k¡N e' J h¡wm¡ f œL¡ "djÑ' fËL¡n J pÇf¡ce¡ L le z LR L¡m fl a e l¡S e aL LjÑS he b L pÇf ZÑ p l H p c§ l f ä Ql - a Q m k¡e J pM¡ e gl¡p j qm¡ j¡c¡j fmÚ ln¡l, flhaÑ L¡ m k e nË j¡ e¡ j f l Qaqe, pq k¡ Na¡u k¡Np¡de¡ J pj¡S ph¡l SeÉ BnËj fË aù¡ L le z Cw l Sf œL¡ "BkÑ'-l j¡dÉ j a e ay¡l cnÑZašÄ Sej¡e p fy R c a hËa qe z 6 Vh¡wm¡ J 32 V Cw l S f Ù¹L fËL¡n L l a e Q¿¹¡ SN a HL ea e k Nlp§Qe¡ L le z ay¡l fËL¡ na f Ù¹L ml j dÉ h no E õM k¡NÉ, "p¡ hœ ',"m¡CgÚ X i¡CeÚ', "c¡ j pSÚ AhÚ c¡ N a¡' J "j¡c¡l C äu¡'z H m i¡la ucnÑZ J l¡øÊ Q¿¹¡l i¡ä¡ l Ap¡d¡le j§mÉh¡e pw k¡Se q u b¡L h z 5C X pðl1950, 78 hvpl hu p nË Al h¾c m¡L¡¿¹ la qe z5

KID’S CORNER “I can make a difference by obliterating illiteracy and povertyfrom our world.”Sthitadhi Chakraborty (11)THE BECKONING LIGHTOrko Manna (14)(This poem is dedicated to my uncle,IlliteracyOne way I can make a difference is by eliminating illiteracy byTapan Manna, who recently passed away)providing basic education to the illiterate people. I want to develop moreThe golden light that I see grows fainterschools for the illiterate people. The teachers there have to be skilled atAs though there was no hopeproviding good education and knowledge. The schools won’t be too muchwithin the moments to comestrict, but have a fun environment. I would enjoy this kind of schools if I wereI weep with a bitter feeling thatall of life is at an end.The birds no longer sing their tune.The sun no longer shines it golden rays.My heart no longer beats its rhythm:thump, thump, thump.I see a white cloaked figurean illiterate person. I would think the illiterate people would have fun too.If I cannot develop such schools for the illiterate people, I’ll need totalk to the experts on language and literacy and request them to developattractive lessons of basic education and teach the illiterate people. I want tocreate a proper method and make an easy program schedule of teachinglessons to the illiterate people.I think the illiterate people would finda pleasurable program of learning with the experts.If an illiterate kid is in a school, then I would suggest to assignfall down through the sky.a student helper in the classroom at all times to help that kid out. For readingThe warm smile makes me shiveror writing the student helper can take the student out in the hallway and dofor it is alone in all the cold.easier things with that kid. Also, the other students in the class should notA hand reaches forwardas if to take me upwards.make fun of the illiterate person because that may hurt his or her feelings.I want to promote more reading and writing programs worldwide toIt touches me, and I am lifted off my feet. wipe out illiteracy. I also need to raise fund so that more schools can be builtA beckoning light shines high above meand more children can get education. Beyond funding I want more volunteersas I float silently, silently and organizations to be involved in the effort of removing illiteracy from ourAway, away, away .world. I also want to increase the public awareness about the illiteracy as aEARTHcritical issue for the growth and development of a country. The illiteracy hasaffected our world, that’s why I want to take it away.Sanam Chakraborty (13)Dear Earth,I'm sorry people are hurting you.PovertyOne way I would wipe away the poverty from the world would be toWith the pollution that they do.be making new jobs for poor people. I want to create an environment whereI don't think it's fair,the poor people become self-sufficient citizens. Sometimes a very simple jobThat people really don't carecan help a poor person to be a better person financially. For example a veryIf they don't recycle.simple job would be selling cotton candy at a carnival or being a clown at aLandfills are getting filledcircus. I think those jobs would be real fun for the poor people. If I were poor,And polar bears are getting killed.I feel bad, it's true,I would’ve enjoyed those jobs.Even though there are companies that donate money to the poor, IAnd I think everyone should pitchwant to establish more companies that donate money to the poor and spendin to help you.the available fund in an efficient way. That way, orphans and people withouthomes or jobs will be very happy. In America, Europe, and Australia, notMY SHADOWmany people are poor. But in Asia and Africa, thousands are poor! That isAhona Mazumder (12)why I want to adopt good strategies to promote economic growth and createAs I walk it closely follows me.It follows so close, it can barely be seen.The cool Autumn wind blows around.Leaves twirl and tumble down withno sound.The sunset so beautiful,No Words can describe.As the darkness slowly falls,Leaving my shadow behind.6more international companies that will donate money to the poor.I want to build enough low-income and affordable housing so that thepoor people can live a better life. I also want to create more charitableorganizations that would give free, healthy, and nutritious foods to the poorpeople so that they will have less chances of not surviving. I really want thosethousands of people to be fed and not to starve. I really wonder how it wouldfeel to be a poor person with no food or water, no home, and no nothing.Therefore, I want to eradicate the poverty from our world.

My trip to Paris - June 2008Sanam Chakraborty (13)Over the summer, my family and I flew to Paris for a familyvacation. Paris, the Capital City of France is also known as the“City of Lights” and after my visit I now know why. We went tovisit my mom’s cousin Anuradha Mashi and her family.Paris city is divided into two hubs, old Paris and new Paris andas the new Paris reminded us of any other American city withtall skyscrapers of steel and glass, it is the old Paris that weexplored and found fascinating.The first day of our trip, we visited the most well known structure of Paris – the Eiffel Tower. This tower was designed by thefamous French architect Gustave Eiffel and was built in 1889for the World Trade Expo. It is made of iron and is about 986ft. tall . You can go up to the top of the tower by stairs or byelevator as we did. We went at 8:00 p.m. and stayed up till11:00 p.m. This gave us the opportunity to see the city lightsafter dark from up above. With its lights turned on, the EiffelTower was truly magical.The second day we went to the most famous museum in Paris,the Musee du Louvre. This was one of the many palaces of thekings of France that has been converted into a museum butbesides its “royal” splendor and architecture it is known forsome of the most famous objects of art in the world. One of themost famous paintings is the Mona Lisa, which was painted byLeonardo Da Vinci in 1503. The French call her La Joconde asshe is supposed to be Lisa the wife of Franceso delGiocondo – an Italian merchant. This painting is hung behindbullet proof glass for added protection. Some other famousworks we saw at the Louvre were the Winged Victory ofSamothrace, Venus de Millo and the ancient Code of Hammurabi which is the oldest written code of law known to mankind.After spending a few hours at the Louvre, we walked to theCathedral of Notre Dame.peaceful French countryside was a very relaxing experience. We first visited Monet’s grave, which was in a smallpublic cemetery on a hill. After that we went to his houseand gardens. The house itself is a small cottage covered inflowers but the gardens were beautiful.The fifth day of our trip we went to visit the Basilica duSacre- Couer - or Church of Sacred Heart. This church islocated on the top of Montmartre hill, which is the highestpoint in Paris. From there you can get a bird’s eye view ofthe entire city. This place is also known for the ArtistVillage – where most of the famous French artists soldtheir works before becoming famous. It is still the home ofmany struggling artists selling their paintings mostly of theParisian skyline for tourists. Walking through the lanes ofthe Artist Village was a very ‘colorful’ experience.On the last day of our sightseeing in Paris, we went to ThePantheon – which is a building famous for housing theCrypt – where famous French personalities are buried.This building is designed in the Greek architecture andresembles the ancient Pantheon. The main dome housesthe famous Foucault’s Pendulum by which the Frenchphysicist Leon Foucault first demonstrated the rotation ofthe earth. In the crypt we saw the caskets of Voltaire,Rousseau, Pierre Curie, Marie Curie, Emile Zola, LouisBraille etc.After this it was time for us to fly back to Chicago. We hada wonderful time in Paris and have memories t

Dear BAGC Family Members, On behalf of BAGC2008 ExCom, I extend Shubho Bijoya and happy Diwali