Pink Twins

Pink Twins
Gangtok

Yellow Villa

Yellow Villa
Gangtok

Sparkling Rai Saag

Sparkling Rai Saag
Gangtok

Lovely Poppy Flowers

Lovely Poppy Flowers
Gangtok

A Different type of Seasonal Flower

A Different type of Seasonal Flower
Gangtok

Blue Flavour

Blue Flavour
Gangtok

Pink & White Combination

Pink & White Combination

Dark Pink Flavour

Dark Pink Flavour
Gangtok 6th March 16

Purple Charm

Purple Charm
CS Quarter Gangtok

Magnificent Yellow and Red Tulip

Magnificent Yellow and Red Tulip
Conservatory Near Selep Tank

Charm of Red Tulips

Charm of Red Tulips
Conservatory near Selep Tank

Lord Buddha

Lord Buddha
1-D Terminal New Delhi

Attraction of Red Panda

Attraction of Red Panda
Saramsa Garden

Lord Ganesh made of oranges

Lord Ganesh made of oranges
Saramsa Garden

Charm of Seasonal Flower

Charm of Seasonal Flower
Gaurds Ground Gangtok

Unmatched beauty

Unmatched beauty
Sikkim Organic Festival

Green is always soothing

Green is always soothing
Sikkim Organic Festival 2016

Yellow Orchid

Yellow Orchid
Somewhere in Gangtok

White Orchid

White Orchid
Manan Kendra

Purple Orchid

Purple Orchid
Manan Kendra, 31-10-2015

Gift of Nature

Gift of Nature
Near Cherry Building

Majestic View of Sea

Majestic View of Sea
Marina, Chennai, 19-10-15

Typical Sikkim Pillar Carving and painting

Typical Sikkim Pillar Carving and painting
Hotel Nork Hill

Mirror Reflection, Changed Angle

Mirror Reflection, Changed Angle
Nork Hill, 24-11-2015

Mirror Trick

Mirror Trick
Hotel Nork Hill, Gtok, 24-11-2015

Yes we have the power

Yes we have the power
Qtr at Devt Area, 25-11-2015

Majestic View of K.jenga from SLA

Majestic View of K.jenga from SLA
Gangtok dt 20-11-2015

MIRROR IMAGE OR COMPUTER TRICK

MIRROR IMAGE OR COMPUTER TRICK
NEW DELHI 22-10-15

BRILLIANT KATHAK PERFORMANCE

BRILLIANT KATHAK PERFORMANCE
MRS MALI SMU 13-10-2015

SAROD RECITAL

SAROD RECITAL
SMU CONVOCATION 13-10-15

SHOWCASING SIKKIM CULTURE

SHOWCASING SIKKIM CULTURE
ITM GANGTOK 14-10-15

RED BEAUTY

RED BEAUTY
GANGTOK

ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL

ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL
MAYFAIR GANGTOK

OM NAMAH SHIVAY

OM NAMAH SHIVAY
MAYFAIR GANGTOK 02-11-15

Smile and Joy

Smile and Joy
24th September Delhi

Catelia Orchid

Catelia Orchid
Gangtok

Beautiful Chinaware Lampshed

Beautiful Chinaware Lampshed
Gangtok

Catelia Orchid

Catelia Orchid
Gangtok on 7-10-15

Morning Glow

Morning Glow
Denzong Regency- Gangtok on 7-10-15

Pink Orchid

Pink Orchid
Pakyong Area

Green Orchid

Green Orchid
Bojeytar Pakyong 26 Feb 15

Tabla or Log Piece

Tabla or Log Piece
HMI Darjeeling Nov 2014

Hand can do anything

Hand can do anything
Birla Science Museum Kolkata

Legacy and Heritage

Legacy and Heritage
Indian Museum Kolkata

Queen Nephretus of Egypt

Queen Nephretus of Egypt
India Museum Kolkata 4th Mar 15

A Buddhist Stone Art Piece

A Buddhist Stone Art Piece
Tashi Delek June 2014

Foot Print of Bason

Foot Print of Bason
Satpura Forest

Foot Print of Tiger

Foot Print of Tiger
Satpura Forest (MP) March 14

Unique Piece of Pine Wood

Unique Piece of Pine Wood

Lovely Twins

Lovely Twins

Pink,Pink,Pink

Pink,Pink,Pink
Orchid,not only Spl ,It lasts longer Also

Clean Water has a Different Impact

Clean Water has a Different Impact
Rangeet at Jorethang ,24-11-14

What a Ravishing Beauty ?

What a Ravishing Beauty ?
Teesta near Kalijhora, 19-12-14

Pre Dawn Captivating Beauty

Pre Dawn Captivating Beauty
K.JUNGA, 6:20 AM 18 -12-14

Another Dawn View -Different Angle

Another Dawn View -Different Angle
K.JUNGA, 18-12-14

View at Dawn in Biting Cold

View at Dawn in Biting Cold
K.JUNGA 18-12

Dawn Scene-2

Dawn Scene-2
V Awas 18 -12-14

Dawn Scenario

Dawn Scenario
K.JUNGA

Morning Means End of Night

Morning Means End of Night
K. JUNGA,

View at Dawn

View at Dawn
K.JUNGA 2 ,18-12-14

Early Morning Freshness

Early Morning Freshness
K.JUNGA, 18-12-14

What an eye opener early in the day?

What an eye opener early in the day?
View of 17-12-2014 from Terrace of V. Awas

Another view of full snow around Mt Kanchendzonga

Another view of full snow around  Mt Kanchendzonga
17-12-2014

Magnificent view after bone chilling night

Magnificent view after bone chilling night
17-12-2014

Beauty of Kachendzonga after a cold night

Beauty of Kachendzonga after a cold night
Vidhayak Awas Gangtok

Amazing charm of Green Orchid

Amazing charm of Green Orchid
HMI Darjeeling

Green Orchid

Green Orchid
HMI DARJEELING (13-11-14)

Bell Flower in full bloom

Bell Flower in full bloom

Yellow Orchid

Yellow Orchid
Dec 14 Circuit House

View of Kanchendzonga always inspires

View of Kanchendzonga always inspires
Vidhayak Aawas Gangtok

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom
November 14 Ganesh Tok Gangtok

What a view after getting up ?

What a view after getting up ?
B-1 Vidhayak Aawas Gangtok

Chanda Mama looking at Kanchendzonga

Chanda Mama looking at Kanchendzonga
11-11-2014 VIP COLONY

Red Rose

Red Rose
Gangtok

Cranes having Gala Time

Cranes having Gala Time
Tigaon, Faridabad (2nd Oct 14)

Yes I am from Faridabad

Yes I am from Faridabad
Tiny, Beautiful Bird at NTPC, Ballabgarh (29.9.14)

Water Vital for Life

Water Vital for Life
Awesome view of Teesta near Kalijhora

Yes I had a Bath

Yes I had a Bath
Gladiola at 6200 ft.

Soothing Morning View

Soothing Morning View
Mt. Khangchendzonga from C.House (April, 14)

Natural Yellow Fascinates

Natural Yellow Fascinates
Gangtok (April, 2014)

Flowery Bell ?

Flowery Bell ?
Circuit House (May 14)

Riot of Colour in Monsoon

Riot of Colour in Monsoon
Circuit House, Gangtok(May 14)

Blushing orange

Blushing orange
Circuit House Gangtok (May 14)

Magnificent Taj

Magnificent Taj
Sept 2013

I can lift Taj Mahal

I can lift Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal,Sept end 2013

Natural fan to beat the heat

Natural fan to beat the heat
India Gate (24.08.14)

Engineering Marvel

Engineering Marvel
Coronation Bridge (22.08.2014)

Cascading water, soothing to eyes

Cascading water, soothing to eyes
Scene near Teesta Baazar (22.8.14)

Teesta attracts at every bend

Teesta attracts at every bend
16.7.2014

Monkey jump

Monkey jump
Teesta River, Birik(22.8.14)

Onset of Night

Onset of Night
Qutub,Sept.13

Qutub,Dusk Scene

Qutub,Dusk Scene
Sept.13

Together we take a Plunge

Together we take a Plunge
Clean Calicut Beach, Feb-2013

Setting Sun, always soothing

Setting Sun, always soothing
Dusk at a Gaya village(15.5.13)

Green Paradise in Concrete Jungle

Green Paradise in Concrete Jungle
Lake surrounding Purana Quila(20.10.13)

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Oxford  Remembered
One hears about lot many individuals, objects, monuments and  institutions  every now and then. A certain positive and optimistic bent of mind leads to finding or grabbing an opportunity to have an actual interface. As a result, one's joy knows no bounds. One is in refreshing/buoyant mood ,thereafter, recalling conversations, visits or events.

Each time Wimbledon happens or the Indian Cricket team visits  England, I am vividly  reminded  of my three visits and one touchdown of London. As such, you cannot have enough of London, epicenter  of world, once upon a time. It has a definite unbreakable link with India. UK as a whole  has allowed growth of many cultures and more than anything else,  the country tolerates a sizeable percentage of  Asian and African immigrants despite many ifs and buts and setbacks, at times.

Very recently when Sunil Gavaskar had a narrow escape travelling  in a high speed car  in London, I was reminded of Vijay, the Indian Taxi driver who used to take us daily from the Hotel Washington to East India   Docks Area  with an equally fast speed during the WTM, London in Nov.2004. He would be over confident of his newly installed GPS in the large Station wagon and  take us  with ease to  the famous tourist spots, such as, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, etc.  He would come out with  interesting and spicy anecdotes pertaining to his arrival in London from probably  Rajasthan and  the way Indians behaved in alien settings, the gossips relating to the Westminster Palace or the British Parliament located beautifully on the banks of Thames, etc. (Apart from a soothing walk in the vicinity, a man sitting on a strike for years altogether, in support of freedom of speech, were not to be missed). 

One day,  it so happened that our leader gave a suggestion to break the monotony of visiting the Exhibition complex and attempt a sojourn, instead  to Oxford University,  in view of its glorious past and the way it impressed and inspired the Indian  Universities, intellectuals and a few reputed politicians. Needless to say, a few,  after passing from here were making a mark/dent on  the Indian political scene. Though I agreed to visit this famous historical place located in the outskirts of London  reluctantly, I do not  regret my decision. Following lines may perhaps justify.



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To begin from the beginning, the date of setting up of the Oxford University (OU) is not known but as we gathered from our tall and handsome guide, sporting  an impressive hat,  teaching is reported to have begun as far back as 1096. In the formative years, the University had no competitor. It was only in 1209 that Cambridge University was established by the former faculty of Oxford once they were compelled to leave the place due to disputes between the students and town dwellers. It was strange to hear that  untill   1820's no new universities were permitted to be set up in England, thus, in a way, ensuring the duopoly of OU and Cambridge. In other European countries, scenario was altogether different.  Gradually, some more spice was added by the Guide to the tales of traditional rivalry between the OU and Cambridge, apart from the annual boat race, a keenly contested and much awaited event.

It was a correct decision to visit this beautiful place which was supposed to facilitate understanding and analysis.  It was a centre to bolster substance and style. A stroll here and there indicated that positive energy was likely  to come. As such, beforehand, it was indicated that OU can be best explored on foot. Weather, too was on our side.

Various  buildings, mostly of yellow colour, built in Gothic style looked gigantic from the Broad Street. With a view to optimally utilise  the time, we were taken first to Christ Church College. Many of the notable scenes of Harry Potter series of films were shot over here. The great dining hall with an unusual high ceiling & large portraits and the 16th Century stair case prominently shown in the movie turned out to be  the masterpieces. One assumed that these must have provided the right kind of background. Walking in the Quadrangle was equally exhilarating.


The OU has 38 constituent colleges, the famous being, Trinity, Christ Church and Somerville. We were informed that the last named college was the first women's college established in 1879.The University was reported to have the largest University press in the world. A very vast Library system with 11 million volumes,  was another jewel in its crown. The Rhodes Scholarship awarded in OU is considered to be the world's most prestigious scholarship.

 Coming to debating skills and activities, the Oxford Union was reported to be famous for its Weekly debates and high profile speakers. The University Students Union, in the same way, was considered to be a good source of fine tuning public speaking abilities, In the past many Indians had the privilege to be associated with it. Some of them are still firing shots.

What we missed witnessing were the Library,70 acre area University Park, class rooms in session, and the interaction between the students and the Faculty. In two to three hours,  idea was to get a feel of the place and plan another visit, if possible.

A few Colleges and Departments were, therefore, looked at from  outside. Each one had a tale to tell. One could also see some  clean eating joints. The visit to University Souvenir shop was memorable. I desired to carry something notable for posterity from this  remarkable University.  I settled for a bottle green  coloured, comfortable jacket with a prominent OU logo for Ankoor, my son.(maybe, if found eligible, he would have  made it to OU some day, I thought). One or two tiny items were also  added  subsequently.


After having an apology to a Lunch, we decided to leave the famous  University. Traffic to the city by now had become dense and clumsy. It was interesting to see boards declaring-" Breakfast available from morning to evening".

By 4 pm, we were back to the  hustle and bustle of the city. In view of the fact that  the British  Museum was scheduled to be shut soon and majority of us were keen to get acquainted to its attractive exhibits, they were dropped first. I, on the contrary, decided to report back to “Excel”, since the visit to OU had energized me sufficiently. Rush of tourism stake holders by this time had registered a rise. Feeling of bonhomie with the back up of music was seen at many stalls.

Post-sunset, I decided to take some time off for  shopping. A Britisher   guided me to a lively middle class market. To my astonishment, I noticed that the shopping avenue too was named after Oxford. But in sum and substance, Oxford University and Oxford Street turned out to be two distinct entities. Both left an imprint, nonetheless.