IMPRESSIONS / Sudarshan Govula

Why I came to CSY25:
There are few reasons why I choose to attend CSY25,  first is, I’ve been in touch with Pallesrujana for quite a long time, (one way communication though, receiving mails), the mails I read about Pallesrujana raised my enthusiasm to know more about its activities, and to interact with Brigadier sir, if possible.
Another reason is, to know better about myself, relieving out from daily work pressures, spend some time for myself and to observe nature.  When I decided to participate I also took a resolution to make new friends.
 The final reason is Lammasingi. Heard lot about this place in past about the cold weather. To experience the chill of nature, I choose to take part in CSY25.

My experiences:
My journey started in Kurnool, with my fellow volunteer, Vijay Kumar. It was a long journey, took 17 hours to reach Kothakota the starting point, by changing 3 Busses on the way. Excited on reaching there quickly refreshed, found a small hotel as recommended by locals and had a delicious breakfast.
There are many volunteers/ Yatrees  (whom I yet to know about) of all age groups, gender, backgrounds, professions gathered at Gram panchayat office, to have a quick session about theme of the yatra and the most important Unlearning.  Everybody had a formal introductions, Because of the diversity in the age and  professions I felt amazed knowing them. What impressed me is, participation of class 11 students. It raised me a question, how do they know about this expedition?  Because I don’t know and imagined such things in my class 11.
Hardest part is Unlearning, which I understood in first hour.  We visited brick factory on the outskirts of Kothakota, came to know about the art and science behind brick making. Being spent most of my childhood nearby brick factories I’m in a false impression that I know everything about brickmaking.  i experienced their skill and  labor which actually added  value to clay and ash.
Next experience is an unusual meeting at an open cowshed, under a tamarind tree. My memories refreshed with my childhood classroom, where my Art and Science teachers used to conduct classes under trees.  Brigadier sir is explaining about Shri Panduranga’s innovation, puncture proof tubes. His struggle throughout the years of the journey on the way to final product and there after the support from Pallesrujana, is nicely explained. The energy, emotions and joy of Brig. Sir while explaining something is truly inspiring, which is normally observed only in children.
Meanwhile I’ve got a chance to interact with some of the fellow volunteers, to know about their passion for life. I observed most of the persons who came there are something special in them.
By afternoon, reached Dibbalapalem. Got a chance to roam in village but due to inexperience and hesitation could not interact with villagers. Continued our walk in forest talking with friends (yes, made them) learning something from their previous yatra’s.  walking along with Brig. Sir, learnt about various trees, plants and recalled about the role of stone minerals in enriching soil.
Visited Anji Reddy sir’s Farm, observed organic farming and met with an interesting solution (hanging bottles) to frighten birds. Enjoyed the beauty of nature, lush green plantations, and pride hills. Its total eye feast for nature lovers.
Konthalam, next village where we fed ourselves.  Food is delicious, but the more satisfying is the love of the women who cooked and serving the food. Thanks to their patience for waiting for us till 5pm. Interacted with school children, collected spontaneous innovative ideas from children.  Thinking like a child gives more practical and effective solutions than a professional, Most of the times they look like impractical to a learned man. They do have amazing creativity, which intern lost due to routine education.
I’ve got a chance to walk with Brig. Sir for which I’ve been waiting.  In few minutes and with few words, I faced most difficult question in recent times. “Are you doing what you love?” At first it seemed simple, but after realizing I started thinking about what i actually love. I realized about myself, one thing I understood is that I do not have the courage to do what I love. I’m satisfying myself by loving what I do. This moment will be with me for long time and fueling.
That ends day one, with dinner, sharing yatra impressions at BB Patnam High School.
Had a comfortable sleep in the night, started day two with outdoor bathing at a hand pump.  Comforts and facilities are imaginary.  Sometimes we cannot be comfortable even with most sophisticated facilities. It all depends on people surrounded by you. Strangers a day before are now friends, helping and cracking jokes on each other.
We met with villagers at temple, interacted with them and demonstrated some of the innovations for farmers. Interacted with village youth. Most of them are settled in agriculture either forcibly or willingly. Farm mechanization is absolutely nil in these area.
Experienced the unconditional love and helping nature from villagers.  It is at breakfast, when four of us reached a small hotel where idly is arranged and by reaching there it was finished. Knowing this, unexpectedly a woman came with basketful of Idlies, which she made for her family. Later we visited her house and thanked.  Observed what and how they cook. The clay stove is cleverly designed to heat two different bowls at the same time.  Shared our thoughts to add a chimney to the stove to pump out smoke.
Talked with Ramana Babu(8978887008), who shared a story about a healer in nearby village,  who cured poisonous snake bite with herbs. Later he introduced us to the elder brother of the victim. they could not recollect the name of the Doctor.
Yatra continued and Brig. Sir shared struggle and journey of Shri. Ch. Mallesham, and his Asu machine. Passion towards one’s work (doing what they love and believe) makes a man outstanding from the rest.  Some persons look simple, but can’t imagine the way they enjoy their work. Met with one of that kind of person, a woman washing loadful of villagers’ clothes with a beautiful smile on her face.
First time we crossed a rivulet in the journey, everybody excited to get into knee depth, cold water and that ultimately turned a meeting place. Brig. Sir shared story of Shri. Mahipal Chary and his simple engineering solutions to complex problems.
About by afternoon we are at the footsteps of high hills. We followed the rivulet upwards for most of the day, and had lunch in and by its banks. Lunch was arranged at a small temple on the banks of river. For the last two days what filled our stomach is not by the food but with the joy of being in nature. Walked through forest, small habitations here and there, tiny natural waterfalls.
Reached Downuru, by evening had a tea break. It is like a base camp to high hills of chintapalli forest, where freezing cold wave prevail. Everybody got ready with cold gear, and started walking on busy traffic highway.
Most of the day I walked with new friends. It is hard to make friends after some age, because of many reservations. It might be because of thinking similarly tied us together. Met with persons of different professions and passions, excelling in their way. Mr. Ramesh  is one of the amazing person. His passion of collecting seeds made him special and his work is recognized now. Came to know Ramesh is now sponsored by Telangana govt to attend SATTVIK-2017 at IIT, Ahmedabad. Another person, Mr. Kranthi Kumar, an entrepreneur is actually a library. Santhosh, a designer, architect. Satyendra Singh, scientist, works at NRSA. Tej, IAS aspirant. Shanthi, Laxmi, Nilaya, Deepthi, chandu, Jaswanth, sneha, Vasav,Vamshi, Venkat and there are more. One common quality among them is they exactly know what they are doing. One person shocked me is Fayaaz, liberated and free spirit. Listening  to him is an education. I followed him for few kilometers just listening.
Walking at night, without light, and for some time without talking (walking silently) is a new experience. I tried but failed to kept myself silent, my mind continuously keeps on talking something, of-course silent externally.
Brig. Sir’s periodic meetings and sharing knowledge reminds me of hen feeding her little chicks. When chicks are too small to walk for distances hen usually takes breaks and offers chicks some warm rest under her wings. Brig. Sir also does the same, usually not more than for 2-3 km, there will be a small get-together, feeds us knowledge. We had more small breaks on the way up to Lammasingi, under dark night and stars. Sir shared his experiences in Indian Army. It was a long walk for the day, almost covered 25 kms. Weather changed to cold as we reached Lammasingi. Had dinner around 2300 Hrs, and concluded the day.
On THIRD DAY, woke up from disturbing cold night sleep, lit a campfire. Lammasingi being recent tourist attraction and because of weekend, tourists flooded the place. Some of them interacted with us and welcomed our efforts.
I’ve got a chance to assist Raju, a hard working volunteer who looked after all our comforts during entire program. Amazed by his patience and dedication.  Innovator by himself, works for the organization voluntarily. 
Started our walk towords Labbangi, came to know about quality of turmeric the tribal cultivate. They used to keep turmeric for two years to grow bigger and fine quality, organically. Learned the turmeric processing. Collected few samples of turmeric, tomato, chilli and some flower seeds.
Passed through coffee plantations, got interesting stories of Odiya youth choose to work as guards in plantations.  By afternoon reached Lotugadda, the destination. On village outskirts, besides tall standing silver oak trees, Had the final lunch and gathered for final impressions. Shared different experiences and observations of yatrees.
There might be many things I could not recollect or present. Some experiences could only be felt could not be written, at least for me. People live here simple and happy. They don’t have any complaints. They don’t have any agony on anyone. They understand by putting their legs in others shoes. They offer unconditional love and affection. Smile on their face, love in their hearts, makes them perfect.
Interesting is one dog(named Browny by one of the yatrres) followed us the last five-six kilometers by walk. she rested comfortably between encircled yatrees for 2 hours and sent off everybody. She is with us till the last yatree boarded the bus.(I’m the last to leave). Felt a bit nervous at closure, for many reasons. Departure of friends, end of joyful journey etc.  my return journey started with 15 persons, unlike single onwards.  Many of yatrees accompanied till Narsipatnam, Teja upto Tuni and Vijay upto Kurnool. Surely this return journey is tired and boring, as we changed 5 busses and it lasted 19 hours.

With regards,
Sudarshan Govula.

Advice for new yatries:
Don’t hesitate to participate thinking you will be alone from your place, your family is waiting there and it hardly takes an hour to find your friends.
Be a child while walking, interacting or observing something, ask and know about everything, even if you know something about that, but don’t interrupt the GURU.

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