My earliest memory with the month of August is from early school days when we celebrated Independence Day at the Residency/Political Office in Gangtok without much knowledge of what was in store two decades later Sikkim fully merged to be the 22nd state of the Indian Union. Another two decades after this historical event and as the Secretary of the Cultural Affairs and Heritage, the nodal department it was a rare privilege for me to organize one month-long state-wide concluding functions for the year-long celebrations of the 50 Years of India's Independence. During the year a cultural troupe under the aegis of Nepal Bhasha Manka Khala: from Kathmandu was in the state capital on invitation of the State Government.  For the first time ever not only the Newars in Sikkim but others also could get a taste of rich cultural extravaganza of the Newar civilization. People who  came even from remote corners of Sikkim and braved the cold rainy winter evening of December 13 and 14 felt amply rewarded. Otherwise they would have missed once in a lifetime such a golden opportunity. During the launch of 'The Newars Worldwide - Connecting the Dots' in March 2016 in Kathmandu, this author had acknowledged and felicitated the duo who led the troupe two decades ago in 1997 - Padma Ratna Tuladhar and Naresh Bir Shakya. Golden Jubilee of India's Independence had the State level closing ceremonies in a befitting manner in the capital Gangtok where the celebrations continued all day long that Independence Day 1998 with a cultural show held in the evening inside the Indoor Gymnasium of the Paljor Stadium in the august presence of state dignitaries. So much was the vim and vigour in the audience mesmerized by the performance of various local and guest artistes in the musical evening that it continued till wee hours. We had declared the function officially closed at the strike of the midnight by bursting of crackers outside, but so much was the jubilation that its video recordings were enjoyed much later also often shown in the local television networks. We had brought out a compilation of patriotic songs in various languages of Sikkim and the best was 'Vande Bharatam', which was also the name of the album. That was two decades ago we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence in an unprecedented way and unparalleled manner so far, the memory of which still lingers fresh to cherish forever not only me but many who were part of such a magnificent celebration! 

The month of August is, however, best remembered personally for two reasons of my life that gave a headstart to my career bringing in something meaningful to take me further on. It has been one of my life changing months to see me entering the second phase having completed my studies two years back but without any employment even in Sikkim. It was the year 1971 second day of this month found myself reporting to join my first ever job - not in Sikkim nor in any part of India or Nepal but in remote corner of the Himalayas to be in the wilderness of the Manas Game Sanctuary as its Game Warden with His Majesty's Royal Government of Bhutan. My education (having done M.Sc. in Zoology 1969 North Bengal University) and love for Nature took me there across the river Manas which was in turbulant spate to cross over in a ferry boat. A year later same date my return was fated but after drenched fully from a rising wave in the last lap that nearly swept off all five of us in the boat. It could not be anything less than a miracle to save me without the knowledge of swimming even to survive in the event of  a mishap. It was a heart touching good bye from the forests that gave me all the experience to be amidst nature through all the seasons one could dream of. Only regret I have with the place is that I could not see a tiger though often ventured out with a Dukpa forest guard in search of one to have a glimpse to the place nearby the animal frequented as we had placed salt-lick blocks previously (except once when we confronted a herd of wild boars.) Not even from the tree-top house we constructed though visitors coming for a day or two were more fortunate that way. Pug marks around my residence  were the only thing seen next morning suggesting of tiger visiting there the previous night. Project Tiger, an attempt to save the Indian tiger from extinction, was not started as yet and I remember Kailash Sankhala (1925-1994) naturalist and conservationist best known for his works in preserving tigers, had visited once when there. More from Wikipedia "Kailash Sankhala  was the first conservationist who raised his voice in favour of protecting them. Project Tiger is a tiger conservation programme launched in 1973 by the Government of India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats and also to protect them from extinction, and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage forever represented as close as possible the diversity of ecosystems across the tiger's distribution in the country." He has some six books on tiger to his credit. It was interesting to read about Tiger in the Times of India online on August 15, 2017 'India: An unauthorised biography of people, events, policies' - "We bring you the energy, fluidity and unpredictability of the seven decades post independence and the promise of the future." India@70 included at number "14 - Tiger, tiger burning bright - Project Tiger, India's flagship conservation project began in 1973 when tigers were in decline, their number guesstimated at 1,800. Despite setbacks that saw their number drop to 1,411 in 2006, the project has achieved. ...At last count India had 2,226 tigers - the number is growing!" 

It was fascination for the Manas brought to limelight by E.P. Gee and his discovery Golden Langur mentioned in his classic book 'The Wildlife of India' (1964) we read in M.Sc. Wikipedia  has some more to share here - "Edward Pritchard Gee (1904–1968) was a Cambridge educated, Anglo-Indian tea-planter and an amateur naturalist in Assam, India. He is credited with the 1953 discovery of Gee's golden langur. He is notable as an early influential wildlife conservationist, especially for his 1959 and 1963 surveys and recommendations resulting in the creation of Chitwan National Park, the first of nine national parks in Nepal.He is famous for his discovery of the langur species which is named after him, Gee's golden langur. He had heard reports of an unusual coloured primate and he organised an expedition in 1953. He managed to film the langurs near the Sankosh River on the border between Assam and Bhutan. Nehru's forward to Gee's book in February 1964 was one of the only pieces he ever wrote on wildlife conservation. In it he said, 'Life would become very dull and colourless if it did not have these magnificent animals and birds to look at and to play with.' Nehru called for more refuges for vanishing wildlife, but he died in May and Gee died four years later. It was the end of an era." 

My batch-mates in the Royal Sikkim Civil Service viz., Badri Nath Sharma*, Madan Kumar Chettri, Tashi Topden* and Norbu Dadul Chingapa  were already there in the (Lal Bahadur Shastri) National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie on the day I was returning from Bhutan. It was possible for me to be there a week later on the 9th day of August. This date 45 years ago in 1972 reporting there as the Probationer for two years' course was also reckoned as the date of my joining the Government of Sikkim. It was a long tenure of 35 odd years full of dedicated efforts to contribute something till the end though not without some tribulation. Life is neither always of smooth sails nor to be swept off that easily also. The lesson learnt from the mighty Manas that bad farewell overflowing all over me with great gusto!

Disclaimer: This is author’s personal account of memories updated to cherish and treasure often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names (*asterisk for those no more), quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and no malice whatsoever intended. He can be reached at [email protected]. His latest "The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots : Sikkim" is available at Rachna Books.     

With schools closing for the vacation many families found it best season to spend with their kids together. Some had their parents from back home in India join them as well. Fortunate were those who could take their time out with their family to best destinations unmindful of what was the weather likely there around. Many go to nearby beach as they want to unwind best away from hustle bustle of life. They would not mind adding a close friend or two to make the long weekend trip more enjoyable. More the merrier as we know. This we did while going on vacation in Florida last time to Outer Banks and previously to Long Island or Martha's Vineyard. What more to wish if the trip was Institute-sponsored with some conference organized in places with tourist interests to keep their guests entertained even while at work for some part of their stay away from home.
 
Yet a couple of days or even a fortnight away vacationing was not the remedy one could expect out while the whole summer was there to stay as long as it wished least bothered whether holidays ended or not. So the best way for many to enjoy seemed to be stay home with all comforts at your hands and let the kids know the facts of life as most of the people do back home. Children are sent to camps and some learn dance Indian classical style as well. Unmindful of hot summer days, people send their kids to India to remain connected to the roots. Some parents go along while others send them with someone going there and follow later for a fortnight to escort back. Such kids are fortunate to have the best (summer) of  both the worlds.

Health conscious would not mind the hot weather as they were seen walking/running around while kids playing in the community park and some enjoying swimming. Mothers taking out their babies in stroller while some cycling out long distance tracks constructed to link far away places gradually developed over the years to the benefit of residents as a social responsibility to the community.  Yet you find many doing rounds shopping at the mall for recoup their household needs while elders taking dog out to stretch their legs allowing the pet to benefit as well. It was also time to see hot air balloon in the sky and some venturing out high in the sky paragliding to enjoy the fine evening around this season with long days and sun set around 8.30. 

Lucky are also those kids whose parents are caring enough to provide them playing facilities inside and outside their home. Driveway is refurbished and  seen converted into basketball-cum-volleyball court while some have the net-posts to play football. Kids enjoy skates, bikes and cycling is the thing they love and seen doing rounds in the community. They are sent for swimming and martial art classes. Frisbee  and water bottle were seen given free to kids but with some message as advertisement during the Annual Block Party we went. Otherwise, the Spring Fair at Exton was full of games enticing children to gamble with toys as baits with three chances for five dollars - quite costly but crowds were seen enjoying the fun being game there. Fidget spinner was the new thing kids enjoyed seen coming here this time and seemed to be a craze world over. 

We are best kept busy with the baby so sweet to watch her grow every day unnoticed but find more charming than the previous day. In her own little way she tries to win our heart all the time, be it smiling or even crying - for us to enjoy looking forward for more to come each passing day as seasons change. 
Disclaimer: This is author’s personal account of memories updated to cherish and treasure often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names (*asterisk for those no more), quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and no malice whatsoever intended. He can be reached at [email protected]. His latest "The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots : Sikkim" is available at Rachna Books.      

This being our yet another trip to the USA, we could have the opportunity to be  familiar with more places around to have idea how fast this place is developing and the changes with new additions in the neighbourhood. First thing was the lush greenery everywhere  we could see out of what barren land with stark naked trees due to snowy winter weather we left the place last time. With flowers of all kinds welcoming the Spring season heralding the better days ahead but not that easily. We had some weeks together with showers to cool the temperature to give the impression that winter was not yet over and leaving us so easily. Sometimes it made think if there would be fine weather at all with hot summer days taking over. Soon the vast stretches of land with plants and yellow flowers everywhere dried up and bales of hay were seen lying around being made by converting dried up forage plants there strewn. Another stretch was already lavish green covered with corn plants about to mature and ready to be harvested during this span. A plot of such land opposite of the road we take coming out of the community was to be developed into another residential area. This would make commuting time for those going to work  escalate as already a number of vehicles pass through before we take our turn there. Another such a community nearing completion with new road was found coming up next to the community we stayed in Exton during our first visit in 2010. One Sunday afternoon we were for lunch with Sheshadri-Nisha and her parents, who welcomed our little baby with traditional welcome Tika. It was nice of new mother to offer some cash on puja thali to reciprocate in gratitude as per our custom. We had very appetizing south Indian food to taste though myself kept off spicy items. May be wondering what of such cuisine without spices - yes, curd rice and payasam helped me a lot, rest was just for tasting rather testing the dish served all others enjoyed the best!

It was quite pleasant to find rows of beautifully constructed similar looking town homes on both the sides while passing through Fringetree Drive of West Whiteland nearby. Many other new communities had come up and were already part and parcel of the life of the people here. Outstanding common feature of these developments seem to be the Indian population. It would not be much of a surprise if you find local community parks crowded with their children as also the grocery shops by parents. Earlier there was one by the name Himalaya Indian store but now Bhawani and some others have come up in and around Exton. Same with the restaurant serving Indian cuisine that has multiplied over the period and people would not mind travelling that distances in search of authentic taste. Even Americans have developed a taste for Indian food served less spicy. Started with Indian Hut, we now have Indian restaurant with names like Deccan Biryani, Devi, Bangles, Ruchi and Tabla besides Nala and Spice,which serve Indian and Thai combined. Latest to join the race was with the name Manam, a word that reads same from front and back. Very much like the word Malayalam and the word we had for our group at Rhenock way back in 1963. Named after the famous Navjivan Trust Gandhiji started, it also read same in Nepali/Hindi - Navjivan Sandhya Club!
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Restaurants here serve water with ice or no ice to welcome as the guest is ushered in and shown the table to sit. Contrary to the common notion that the people in America drink a lot of beer and only beer for water even but apparently it is not so here. Many of these places whether Indian or Chinese do not serve liquor at all. At the most some restaurants have beer in their menu under beverages mainly of mocktails non-alcoholic. There are beer bars for those who love and found on sale during Annual Block Party we joined with many games for children. When we first came here we had small breweries with draft beer like Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant and another was Victory Brewing Company that has grown popular with its brand name Victory.  Incidentally, there has been a spurt in beer bars as well with as many as six that came up in the neighbourhood around this summer. World of Beer was the first this season while one fine Sunday noon we found ourselves in an open beer garden just started. Developed in sprawling lawns where barns and stables used to be there earlier and named as Levante at the Stables. Learnt that it was an 1840 farmhouse/stable where  the rawness of the original stable was preserved with simply built a 32-tap bar around it. Not only their own beers, but Pennsylvania (PA) wines and some mixed PA cocktails as well served. Food trucks, close to two acres of outdoor seating and lounging and a chill atmosphere. Planned to be open through the summer, the satellite might remain open year-round the way they are going ahead well received.                                                                                                               (To be continued)

Disclaimer: This is author’s personal account of memories updated to cherish and treasure often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names (*asterisk for those no more), quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and no malice whatsoever intended. He can be reached at [email protected]. His latest "The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots : Sikkim" is available at Rachna Books.