Nachiketa Meets The God of Death! *02

Sham S.Misri
(In continuation to previous blog)

 

Nachiketa was the son of sage Vajashravas.  One day in a fit of anger Vajashravas gifted his son Nachiketa to Lord of Death?  Later, the father repented.  Nachiketa told his father, “Death means nothing but meeting Lord Yuma. Let me see what Yuma will say." Then Nachiketa approached his father and said, "Father, whatever has happened has happened. Do not be upset."

Vajashravas repented that he had committed a sin. He took his son Nachiketa in his arms and began to weep.  "Son, if you want to meet Lord of Death you may go ahead,” Said his father.  When Nachiketa got the permission, he sat in the lotus posture. With folded hands he closed his eyes and began to pray to Lord Yuma. Gradually he completely forgot the outside world.

Suddenly Nachiketa felt as if someone was calling him. On opening his eyes he found that his father was not there. So, what did he find? It was a wonderful place indeed. He saw a big palatial building in his front. The walls were decorated with golden frills. It was a wonder of wonders to him. Slowly he proceeded towards the gates of the palace. Two persons with open swords were guarding the palace. He was taken aback on seeing those fellows. He approached them and said, "Sirs, may I know where I am and who you are?" They replied, "This is the palace of king Yuma (the god of Death). By the way, what brought you here, young lad?"

Nachiketa was delighted and felt that he was very fortunate. He said, "Respected Sirs, I am the son of the sage Vajashravas. My father has asked me to meet God Yuma. Please take me to him." The guards went inside with the information. They returned and said, "The Lord is out of station on some business. He is expected to return after three days. The Queen has requested you to make yourself comfortable as a guest of the palace."

But the proposal was not acceptable to Nachiketa. He said, "Sirs, my father has kept an appointment and I should act according to the instructions Of Lord Yuma, the God of Death. Hence I will wait for him at the gate itself till he returns." So saying, he selected a spot outside the palace and sat upon it.

Three nights passed. Nachiketa did not move from his place. He had not eaten any food. Still his mind never wavered. It concentrated upon God and God alone. Gods and Goddesses in the heaven were wonder struck at the penance of the boy.

As soon as Lord Yuma returned to the palace, he was told of the developments. God of Death was greatly pleased with the self punishment of Nachiketa. Though Nachiketa was a junior, still God of Death addressed him with folded hands with the words, "O famous and noble Brahmin, Nachiketa, open your eyes.” Nachiketa slowly opened the eyes. The sight he saw had no parallel in his life. He held Lord of Death in all his heavenly glory. He stood up and with folded hands prayed thus: "O, Lord of Justice, I have come here at the order of my father. I am at your disposal now."

The Lord of Death, Yuma, led him inside the palace and offered him a seat. He offered him milk and fruits. Nachiketa accepted the offerings. Then the Lord Yuma began the conversation with the words, "Dear boy, guests are considered as Gods in our land. Unfortunately you, though being my guest, had to fast for three days because of me. I beg your pardon for this mistake of mine. Since you underwent fast for three days, I grant you three boons. Choice is yours."

Nachiketa replied: "Lord, your blessings are enough for me. Only my father has desired that I must act according to your instructions."

"Nachiketa, I am pleased with your humbleness," said Lord Yuma, "but my words shall not go unfulfilled. I insist upon granting you three boons. Please spell out your choice."

Nachiketa continued: "Lord, I believe that anger is bad for anybody. Whenever a person becomes angry, he knows not what he speaks. But later on he repents for his uttering. If only my father had remained peaceful during the period of sacrifice, there would have been no necessity at all for the sad happenings. But if a person should attain peace of mind, he should be satisfied within himself. My father is all the more sorry because the events of the sacrifice have been disrupted."

Yuma replied: "Don't worry, Nachiketa. You have not come here after dying. Your father has performed many a prayers. In order that his words may be achieved, I myself made you to go over here. Please ask whatever you desire."

Nachiketa said, “My father should be relieved of his anger and he should become a peaceful and happy person. He should recognize me when I return and also he should show the same affection. This shall be my first request."

Lord said, "All right, your father will be at peace with himself henceforth. The sacrifice shall be completed and he will be happy about it. He will be very happy to see you again. Now proceed to the second."

Nachiketa said, "Lord, I have learnt that Gods and Goddesses thrive in Heaven. They know no fear. They have not to worry about old age. They are deathless. If we have to attain Godhood, it seems we must be well versed in the Knowledge of Fire.  I seek that Knowledge of Fire from you."

Now Lord Yuma, the God of Death was pure in a dilemma. How can he transmit such high knowledge to such a young boy? Still he replied: "Nachiketa, no doubt you are a dedicated boy. A person with dedication will find it easier to understand the intricacies of knowledge. So listen with care." So saying, he taught him the Knowledge of Fire. At the end he said: "Nachiketa, only those gifted with good memory are able to retain this knowledge. Otherwise it is difficult. Let me see if you can repeat my teachings."

Nachiketa was too brilliant a student for such tests. His grasping power was wonderful. Without missing a single letter, he repeated everything that Lord Yuma had spoken. Lord Yuma was filled with joy. He was all praise for the boy. 'Enough’ he said, "Now that you have become a learned person, I will grant a boon on my own. This Knowledge of Fire will henceforth be known as 'Nachiketagni' named after you. Whoever acquires this knowledge will attain Godhood automatically. Naturally you will also attain Godhood." With these words he placed a garland of beautiful gems around Nachiketa's neck.

Now, only the third boon remained to be asked. Nachiketa became thoughtful. He recollected that one-day at the teacher’s place; he was weeping over the death of a cow. He said aloud: "Lord! Every living being in the world is mortal. They go through a cycle of happiness and grief in accordance with their good work or sin. It is said that even if the body dies, the soul remains undying. So there are cycles of births and deaths. What is the secret of this? Are there no ways and means of overcoming this grief? Kindly let me know if there is one. This shall be my third request."

The Lord was wonderstruck at this question, because it is not easy for children to dig into such deep knowledge. Yuma said: "Dear boy, I request you not to press for such a boon. I can shower on you wealth, money, or whatever you desire. The knowledge, which you are seeking, is known as Knowledge of Self. It is a tough subject even for the elders. So, please drop this and ask for any other thing."

But Nachiketa was a different man. It was not easy to convince him to leave his path. He was already in possession of the Knowledge of Fire, which offered him Godhood. Then why should he crave after dull things? Instead knowledge, if shared, could enrich the whole world. He requested Yuma: "Lord, Please do teach me Atmavidya. Where else can I get a teacher like you if you refuse?"

Yuma had no other choice but to teach the young sage. He taught the knowledge of yaga also along with that. Wishing good to the entire humanity, Lord Yuma said: "O great boy, one should be fortunate indeed to be born as a human being. He should cultivate good friends, he should learn good things and he should do well to others. These are the meritorious deeds. It will be a sin if one keeps bad company and one's actions are motivated by evil thoughts.

"Learned people will never resort to sins, only an ignorant person does. The ignorant shall pay for their sins by taking rebirth. That is why it is said that it is only the body that dies and not the soul. Attaining salvation is the only path to avoid grief. And the path to salvation is through devotion to God. God is greater than the greatest. We worship Him as omnipotent and omniscient. He is visible to us through sun, moon, man and even animals. We should feel the presence of God everywhere. We should treat everybody equally. We should do well to all. Such persons will attain salvation. Nachiketa, May you become a devotee of God and may you do good to one and all." Thus the Lord ended his advice.

Nachiketa was transformed into a different person. The shine on his face surpassed even that of Gods. Brimming with joy, he said, "May I take leave of you Lord? My salutations to thee." There was rejoicing in Heaven and the Gods showered flower-petals on him.

Bidding him farewell, the Lord of Death said, "Nachiketa, go and spread this knowledge in the world. Now you can join your father."

With a loud voice audible throughout the world the Lord said thus: "Ye the people of Mankind! Arise! May you follow the Path of Virtue shown by the enlightened ones? Awake."

The heavenly voice was heard throughout the world. All the holy men in the Holy Land of India- received the message. It reached the sacrificial hall of Vajashravas also. Vajashravas ran out and gazed towards the sky. The other sages also joined him. They saw a brilliant object descending to the earth. It landed near the sacrificial hall. Lo! They saw Nachiketa.

Vajashravas embraced his son with open arms and said, "My dear son, please forgive me." Mother Vishwavara Devi was overwhelmed with joy. She called, "Darling child! How did you acquire this shine on your face? Who presented this jewelled garland?"

Nachiketa narrated the entire story to all those present there. Praise was showered on Nachiketa for his achievement. The sages turned to Vajashravas and said, "O sage Vajashravas! Truly your son is great! He has earned praise from Lord Yuma himself. How fortunate you both are to be his parents. The fruits of this sacrifice are doubled because of him. He struggled so that you can attain Godhood. He should be respected since he caused the Knowledge of Nachiketagni to come to this world. He has brought the knowledge of Soul (Atmavidya) along with him. Though he might be a boy, he has already attained sage hood, His name will find a place in the books of Vedas. He will remain immortal." Nachiketa carried the knowledge from Heaven to the earth. He was tender in age but attained sage hood by his knowledge. He was the one who argued with Lord Yuma that knowledge is supreme. His service to his parents as well as to his teachers is a shining example for others to follow. He wished nothing but good to the world. Thus Nachiketa became great sage.

The story of Nachiketa is narrated in the holy book of Vedas.

Books by the Author(s)

Lal Ded Of Kashmir Saint Poetess: A Catalogue of Lal Vakhs

Kashmir Shaivism and Modern Science

Kashmir - A Concise History: Mahabharata Epoch 3067 BCE to Modi Era 2016 A.D

The Aryan Invasion Theory - A Subterfuge: A Scientific Look

Tibet: Earthly Paradise

Kali Maa: The Dawn of Woman and Beyond

Maa Ganga: Mythology, Mystery and Science

The Ten Departures of Kashmiri Pandits

Tales from Kashmir, Part-1

Tales from Kashmir, Part-2

Tales from Kashmir, Part-3

Tales from Kashmir, Part-4

Tales from Kashmir, Part-5

The Wandering Pandit

Wonderful Stories for Children, Book-1

A Peep Into America's Past

Silkworm Breeding Made Easy

Collected Poems of Pt. Krishen Joo Razdan, By J. N. Misri, Vol. 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6[Edited and Published]

Travels Through America And Canada

When I Met Her

The Ultimate Fishing Rod

Kashmir: The Book of Anecdotes

Tour to 5 Countries in Europe

Cleopatra-Harmachis-Part-1-Love-Lord

Cleopatra and Harmachis - Part-2: The Finding of Treasure

Awantipurich Jajeer: (A Hubble Bubble of Awantipur)

Sham S. Misri

Long time ago there was a village shopkeeper in Awantipur, a town in Kashmir. The shopkeeper would sell smoking material-a Hubble bubble and match boxes etc.  He had kept one Hubble bubble for his personal use at the shop. To this Hubble bubble he had tactfully kept one hole choked. Ordinarily no outsider would have taken notice of that hole being choked.

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For the collection of stories visit Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AQCA5AM

My Tour to Crater Lake

Sham S. Misri

Friday, 6^th July, 2012-09-03

Having made all the preparations for the tour to The Crater Lake, we left our residence at Redmond early in the morning. I was accompanied by my wife Sarla, my son Sandeep, his wife Suprigya, and two kids, Parum and Neil. The van was loaded with all the stuff that we thought feasible for the journey. Since we had to leave early we carried our Non-vegetarian lunch with us. Driving the van smoothly we detoured at Olympia, the capital of Washington.

Olympia:

Our first halt was at Olympia, the capitol of Washington State. The site of Olympia was home to Lushootseed-speaking peoples for thousands of years. The first recorded visit by Europeans was in 1792 when Peter Puget and a crew from the British Vancouver Expedition charted the site.

The population of Olympia slowly expanded from Oregon Trail immigrants. The area began to be served by a small fleet of steamboats known as the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. Olympia became capital city of the Washington Territory in 1853. Later Olympia became the home of the Olympia Brewing Company, which brewed Olympia Beer.

The Washington State Capitol or Legislative Building in Olympia is the home of the government of the state of Washington. It contains chambers for the Washington State Legislature and offices for the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and treasurer and is part of a campus consisting of several buildings. The buildings for the Washington Supreme Court, executive agencies and the Washington Governor's Mansion are part of the capitol campus.  Olympia has become a hub for artists and musicians, and has very good college towns.

We had a memorable visit of the capitol buildings of Olympia. When we were preparing to leave the beautiful gardens, I looked at the parked van. Soon my eye caught sight of the rear flat tyre of the car. It was on the driver’s side. It was about 1 PM. Sandeep immediately intimated the Insurance people, who deputed their representative to change the tyre. It was informed that the help would reach within an hour. So, we decided to have our lunch in the lush green lawns of the Olympia Capitol building.  The lunch was relished very much. In the mean while help reached. The tyre was changed, and we proceeded further towards Portland. However, to ensure safe travel it was decided that the four tyres of the vehicle would be changed before going to Crater Lake. This was done in the city of Olympia itself.

Leaving Olympia, we moved direct to Portland. Here we had to go to see the famous waterfalls. Before checking in the lodge we made our journey to Multinomah Falls.

Multnomah Falls:

The trail begins at Multnomah Falls Lodge, a historic building built to serve early automobile travellers in 1925.

We visited the Multnomah Falls. It is a waterfall magnificent and memorable. It is located just a 30- minute drive outside of Portland. Multnomah Falls is 611-foot-tall roaring, awe-inspiring cascade of icy water. It let us experience the power and beauty of nature up close and with ease. From the parking area a five minute walk is all that separated us from the exciting spray at the base of the falls.

The first part of the trail is a gently sloped trail to the Benson Bridge. It was built in 1914 by Simon Benson, one of the builders of the old highway. The bridge is probably the most photographed piece of architecture in Oregon. This part of the trail is a paved cakewalk. One small part of the trail has a few stairs which may block the way to wheelchairs beyond the lower falls viewpoint. Beyond the bridge, the trail switches up steeply for another mile to a ridge crest.

While walking through the trail, I came across a local man who told me a lovely tale about the Multinomah Falls. He continued by saying that according to Native American lore, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe. Although we can see the top portion of the falls from the highway, to view both tiers we have to walk to the viewing area located in a carved-out opening in the rock face. Tilting our heads up in the narrow rocky confines of the steep cliffs, we got a mind-boggling perspective on the sheer magnitude of the falls.

For an even closer view, we walked another several hundred feet up the paved trail to reach Benson Bridge, which spans the falls at the first tier's misty base. Standing on the bridge we have a perfect view of the top tier's full 542-foot height and a knee-wobbling vantage point over the second tier's 69-foot drop! The bridge is named for Simon Benson, a prominent Portland businessman who owned the falls in the early part of the 1900s. Before his death, Benson gave Multnomah Falls to the City of Portland, which later transferred ownership to the United States Forest Service.

I along with my dear wife, Sarla, whom I don’t leave alone tried to go up to the end point.

After crossing the bridge which connects the two mountains, we ascended up more than half the distance. We then stopped there to enjoy the nature. It was really a scenic point. My son Sandeep, along with his wife, Suprigya, and children went right up to the top.   

We had all the gossip there, till the children returned. It took them nearly an hour to foot the trail

We visited the Multnomah Falls Lodge. The lodge was built in 1925 to serve throngs of tourists who came to view the spectacular sights of the Columbia Gorge. Today, the historic structure (made of every type of rock found in the gorge) houses a gift shop with plenty of postcards, a restaurant with Northwest Cuisine and unbeatable views of the falls.

The vendors would offer ice cream, coffee, sodas and other quick snacks from booths and carts in front of the lodge. We had quick ice cream.

Unlike many of the West's famous falls, Multnomah Falls does not dry up in the late summer. Rainwater, an underground spring and snow melt feed the falls through all four seasons and ensure a spectacular sight any day of the year.

To make the outing complete, I observed that some tourists had carried the Pets at Multnomah Falls. There was no need to get a Northwest Forest Pass.

When I and my wife sat on a stone bench across the bridge, a spray and mist caused a cooler micro-climate within the falls viewing area. That time we felt the need to have a sweater in summer for added warmth. We had no sweater with us, so only by remaining close to each other we managed to overcome the cold.

While returning back we saw the Wahkeena Falls which was near termination by the side of the road. To reach the actual falls, we had to hike some distance. The name Wahkeena means "most beautiful" in the Yakima language. Not as tall, at a little over 240 feet, and not as well-known, Wahkeena Falls still has much to offer in the way of beauty. The steep one-mile trail leading from the base of the falls to the top is loved by locals for its views, and wildflowers. From Portland, the drive is scenic all along.

It was late in the night and we went direct to the lodge. We checked in the lodge and then moved out again for our dinner. We had a comfortable sleep in the lodge.

Saturday, 7^th July, 2012

This was a very hectic day out. Leaving the lodge early in the morning we proceeded to the famous Crater Lake. The lake is quite far away from Portland lodge were we were staying. Our first stop was a beautiful lake where we stopped and had our lunch.

Among many lakes, the Waldo Lake is one of the purest lakes in the world, and a true gem of the Cascades. The lake is one of the largest natural lakes in Oregon. Waldo Lake is surrounded on three sides by thousands of acres of Waldo Lake Wilderness. Many visitors value the Waldo Lake area for its outstanding recreation opportunities, solitude, and scenic beauty. Located near the crest of the Cascades, Waldo Lake was difficult to access until the 1970s. Later a paved road and several campgrounds were added to the area. Increased local population and recreation use – including fishing, camping, and motor boating use – has led to a decline in water quality, though the lake’s water remains amazingly pure.

The Diamond Peak:

We next stopped at a viewpoint wherefrom we could see the Diamond Peak from a distance.  The Diamond Peak stands above the Willamette Pass area of Oregon about 50 miles southwest of Bend.  The Diamond Peak accounts for high snowfalls and a few glacial remnants are also seen near the peak. It's reachable by several trails and is a popular ski mountaineering peak in winter with over 4000 skiable vertical feet. The summit was carved by glaciers and has many semicircular hollow walls. The glaciers left behind dozens of lakes around this peak.  It's not a difficult summit but it is a more remote peak and the trails can be long (up to 21 miles round trip from the Willamette Pass and around 40 miles round trip from the west trails). The first ascent was in 1852 by John Diamond (namesake).

Crater Lake.

After having touched some scenic spots enroute we finally reached the Crater Lake. The first look on the Crater Lake brings to mind that no place else on earth combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in colour. It is a place of immeasurable beauty.

Crater Lake has long attracted the wonder and admiration of people all over the world. Its depth of 1,943 feet makes it the deepest lake in the United States, and the seventh deepest in the world. Its fresh water is some of the clearest found anywhere in the world.

Crater Lake was formed when a massive eruption of Mount Mazama 7700 years ago caused the mountain to collapse, leaving a steaming caldera. Centuries of rain and snow filled the caldera creating Crater Lake.

There is a Museum and Archive Collections of Crater Lake. The Crater Lake National Park is an area of 249 square miles dedicated to the preservation of its natural and cultural resources.

The Crater Lake Science and Learning Centre work to bring researchers and artists to Crater Lake to explore its resources. Many school children visit the Crater Lake every fall and spring.  Hundreds of thousands of people visit Crater Lake National Park each year. Crater Lake is located in the south- of the U.S. state of Oregon. The Crater Lake is famous for its deep blue colour and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148-foot deep crater that was formed around 7,700 years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. There are no rivers flowing into or out of the lake; the evaporation is compensated for by rain and snowfall.

 On June 12, 1853, John Wesley Hillman was reportedly the first person of European descent to see what he named "Deep Blue Lake" in Oregon. The lake was renamed at least three times, as Blue Lake, Lake Majesty, and finally Crater Lake.

Crater Lake is known for the "Old Man of the Lake", a full-sized tree which is now a stump that has been moving up and down vertically in the lake for more than a century. The low temperature of the water has slowed the decomposition of the wood, hence the longevity of the bobbing tree. The stump is about 2 feet in diameter and stands approximately 4 feet above the water. The surface has been bleached white by the elements. The exposed end of the floating tree is splintered and worn but wide and buoyant enough to support a person's weight. Some observations indicated that The Old Man of Crater Lake travels quite extensively, and sometimes with surprising rapidity.

While having no indigenous fish population, the lake was stocked with a variety of fish. Several species have formed self sustaining populations.

The lake is 5 by 6 miles across with an average depth of 1,148 feet.  Its maximum depth has been measured at 1,949 feet.  On the basis of maximum depth, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. However, on the basis of comparing average depths among the world's deepest lakes, Crater Lake becomes the deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere and the third deepest in the world.

The Klamath tribe of Native Americans, who may have witnessed the collapse of Mount Mazama and the formation of Crater Lake, have long regarded the lake as a sacred site. Their legends tell of a battle between the sky god and the god of the underworld. Mount Mazama was destroyed in the battle, creating Crater Lake. The tribe still holds Crater Lake in high regard as a spiritual site. The Crater Lake and the area became a national park in 1902.

            Rolling mountains, volcanic peaks, and evergreen forests surround this enormous, high Cascade Range Lake, recognized worldwide as a scenic wonder. On summer days, neither words nor photographs can capture Crater Lake's remarkable blueness. Snowfall provides most of the park's annual precipitation. Crater Lake rarely freezes over completely; it last froze in 1949.

Birds and other animals often seen are ravens, jays, nutcrackers, deer, ground squirrels and chipmunks. Black bear, foxes, porcupines, and squirrels are often seen.

Native peoples of the region travelled to the Crater Lake area for many purposes. The Park environs were used for both hunting and gathering. For the Klamath, spirit power could be found in many sources, among these "such natural features as mountains, streams, rocks, or even landmarks like Crater Lake". A thick blanket of snow encircles the remarkable blueness of Crater Lake. Having walked over the snow in the month of July was amazing. The children had a snow fight at the Crater Lake. This will remain ever fresh in my memory. It was awfully late when we covered the whole distance back to our lodge. 

Sunday, 8^th July, 2012

Portland:

The day was hot and bright. We left the lodge and proceeded towards the gardens and down town of Portland.

Portland is a city located in the U.S. state of Oregon, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. It was Founded 1845.  The City population (2011) census is nearly 593,820. The Time zone of Portland is Pacific Standard Time. Portland is Oregon's most populous city.  Approximately 2.2 5 million people live in the Portland metropolitan area. Portland has been referred to as one of the most environmentally friendly, or "green", cities in the world. It has good public transportation networks and efficient land use planning. Portland has a climate marked by warm, dry summers; and wet, cool to chilly winter days. This climate is ideal for growing roses, and for more than a century, Portland has been known as the "City of Roses" with many rose gardens—most prominently the International Rose Test Garden. The city is also known for its large number of microbreweries and micro distilleries, as well as its food carts and coffee enthusiasm.

The Japanese Garden and the local tour was great. In fact the whole of Oregon is beautiful. Rivers and lakes create much-coveted open space in the hubbub of daily life in any city. In Oregon, we have so many rivers and lakes defining our landscape, that nearly every city, town, burg has at least one urban park with a river running through it, or a lake glimmering at its core. Some parks are small, with low hills for picnicking and just enough green space to shut out the weightier cares of the city. Others parks are vast and expansive, with opportunities to swim, fish, bike, run on wooded trails, romp with the dog, and play sports. From the petite to the super-size, I’ve rounded up five of my favourite urban parks in Oregon, each unique in its own dazzling way.

After having spent some hours in the Portland, we moved back to Seattle.

Harmukh Gosoin

Sham S. Misri

 Harmukh is a mountain peak with an elevation of 16,870 ft. It lies in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir state. Harmukh is part of the Himalaya Range, and is located between Nallah Sindh in the south and Neelum River in the north. The word ‘Harmukh’ means to look same from all sides.

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Albert Einstein! (1879-1955)

Sham S. Misri

Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. An American physicist, Nobel Prize recipient (Physics, 1921) was noted for his theories of relativity, which revolutionized human understanding of the nature of space and time and formed the theoretical basis for the exploitation of atomic energy.

Sham S Misri

Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read. His teacher described him as a slow thinker and a daydreamer. At the dinner table one evening, he finally broke his long silence: "The soup is too hot," he complained. His parents, greatly relieved, asked him why he had never spoken before.

"Because," he replied, "up to now everything has been in order."

In 1898, young Albert Einstein applied for admission to the Munich Technical Institute - and was turned down. The reason? The young man, the Institute declared, "Showed no promise" as a student.

An average student at Zurich (Switzerland) who even failed to get admission to graduate school, Einstein was packed off to.................................
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Pun Kath: (Bib Garazmaej Huenz Kath)

Sham S. Misri

On every Pun day my father used to start the story by saying:

 

Rethuv manz retha Bhadoon Petha, Vinayak Chorum Ta Aathwar, az Chu….

Every year a story is told on the occasion of the annual 'Pun' in a Kashmiri Pundit family. Pun falls in the lunar fortnight of Bhadoon (August- September). The eldest of the family tells

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Khoda Mandis Sepah: (Mistaking a pit stump for a policeman)

Sham S. Misri

The valley of Kashmir has been extremely beautiful. Although beautiful, the people of this beautiful valley have been poor in the past. For hundreds of years, Kashmir has been asking for aid from outside sources. The outsiders took a bite of the red apple; from whichever side they felt the redness. Whenever a Kashmiri 


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