My Mussoorie Days!

 

My Mussoorie Days!

Mussoorie was a turning point, an important mile stone, not only in my career, but also in my life. When I joined the Academy in 1974, my life changed irrevocably. Suddenly the horizon expanded. Madras, now Chennai, where I completed my M.Sc in Zoology, though a metropolitan city was not comparable in lifestyle to Bombay, now Mumbai or New Delhi. The world view was quite different. In Mussoorie, opportunities just exploded. Under Dr. Rajeshwar Prasad, the Director, LBSNAA, extra-curricular activities galore, and one can pick and choose what one wanted to do. Having embroiled in studies to complete M.Sc, then to write the UPSA examination, it was a welcome change. I think I just went mad!

Early mornings went to the riding classes. One had to climb down to the riding ground. I was fairly good at riding and I loved it. My horse was Josaphine, the fine lady! Many a weekend, we went on treks on horseback in and around Mussoorie. It was a good exercise for the body and exhilarating experience with wind blowing on your face and the horse steady on trot or galloping wildly, especially when you lose control! Our riding instructor Nawal Singh, would shout saying, if you cannot control a horse, how would you control a district? Even Indira Gandhi, ex-PM of, seemed to have held such a view. During the British time, Collectors had to use horses to reach the remote interior regions of his district. A colonial relic, may be, but it is an exhilarating experience, giving one confidence and boldness to face any situation in the district or elsewhere.

I was able to continue this favorite outdoor exercise of mine, even after a break of 15 years, when I was posted to Mysore as Divisional Commissioner, Mysore. The Police had their own training school there, Karnatak Police Academy, at the foothills of Chamundi Hills, with a Horse-riding school. I went most mornings for horse riding, many a times accompanied by my son, who was just ten years old that time, and he never missed an opportunity to ride with me. I had the privilege of leading the Dasara procession in the years 1990 and 1991, in the front along with the Mayor of Mysore and the Commissioner of Police on horseback.

Then came Judo, the Japanese martial art, where you throw your opponent by focusing on grappling and throwing techniques, basically a close quarters combat. Many lady probationers took up this course in the Academy, including me. Again, it helps one with physical fitness, self-confidence, and teaches you self-defense. This passion for physical and outdoor activities, blossomed into Jane Fonda aerobic exercises, resistance training with weights and swimming for the next thirty years. It really gives you confidence to face challenging situations in the field.

The other outdoor activity in the Academy was the two weeks annual break, when one went to either a trek in Himalayan Mountain range or attended a specific training programme like rock climbing. Our Deputy Director Sri. Yugandhar was the spirit behind these activities. I went to Uttar Pradesh, now Uttarakhand, to train in Rock climbing and enjoyed learning techniques of foot holds and hand holds and rappelling. Last few days we trekked up to Gangotri glacier to see the beginnings of Ganges River, a bit difficult and tiring trek.

Next year I went for high altitude trek, passing Rohtang Pass and crossing into Lahaul-Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh, which is around 3980 meters high. The stretch was covered with snow even in summer when we went. The pass connects Kullu valley with Lahaul and Spiti valleys. Once we crossed the pass, we descended into Lahaul Valley, with picturesque villages perched around. The trek offered a spectacular view of the snow-capped mountains, fresh and snow-laden breeze, lush valleys and alpine meadows. It was physically very demanding, but worth the trouble. I refused to wear dark glasses while crossing the pass, and when we reached the valley, I was totally snow-blind! On return to the Academy, when everyone was going about normally, I was going around with sunglasses – a freak?!  

Once in Bangalore I joined the club Nature Admire and went on many treks around Bangalore up to Tippu’s fort near Ramanagaram, walking through the fertile paddy fields and sleeping on the parapet wall of the fort. In and around Ramanagaram there are many boulders and we did rock climbing too. I rounded it all off by attending a month-long Basic Mountaineering Course in Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, now Uttarakand, and passed out with flying colors, obtaining an A! After acclimatizing, in the last week, we trekked up to the Basic Camp in Gangotri region. We did a lot of rock-climbing including rappelling which I thoroughly enjoyed. For the first time I ravenously ate the cold cooked potatoes and full boiled eggs and raisins rationed out to us individually at the start of every day trek. One was hungry to say the least!

These outdoor experiences gave me a love for touring the districts and villages either as an Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner or Head of the Department of the various departments where one worked during the Service. It gave strength and stamina, courage and a positive outlook, and confidence to meet any challenge in the work.

Of course, one had to be free of mundane works like cooking and cleaning, if one had to go all out on such activities and combine it with work. Fortunately, in the Academy you eat at the mess and they feed you quite well, and an attendant on call to boot for mundane matters. I remember fondly Bahadur, who attended to the Ladies block and was a favorite with all the lady probationers.  

There were many other things going on in the Academy, classes, library, cultural programmes, shramdhan, games like badminton and tennis, yoga and Transcendental meditation, celebrating festivals including Holi, long walks to Library point, visits to Hari’s café, exploring the neighborhood and so on. But what stood out for me was the outdoor activities, which livened my life, not only during the first 2 years at the Academy, but throughout the career and thereafter. I thank my God, the Creator for these wonderful places and the grace given me to enjoy them.

Wonderful and unforgettable Mussoorie days!

(This article was written by me for the Magazine, "Reminiscences and Reflections" of Civil Service Batch of 1974, the Fiftieth Anniversary of which was held at Mussoorie from 2 -4 April, 2025)