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| AAPI Delegates Attend Indo-US Health Summit |
Onaly Kapasi
03/01/2012
I traveled to Mumbai late last year and crisscrossed India and I must
say that an awakening of India is truly evident across India. My journey
for the most part was with the Indo-U.S. Health Summit Delegates
spearheaded by the AAPI president Dr. Sunita Kanumury.
Day 1
My wife Chander and I landed in Mumbai on Dec. 16, 2011. Our friends had
arranged to have their chauffer receive us at the airport and take us
to our hotel at Nariman point in Mumbai. As we drove through the
bustling streets of Mumbai and drove over the Sea-link Highway and
crossed the Sanjay Gandhi Bridge I was amazed with the architectural
design of the road system and the bridge that is a look-alike of the new
Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston.
However, the erratic driving that is a signature of Mumbai traffic
system remained unchanged. We were at our hotel room in about
thirty-five minutes which I thought was a record time travel from the
airport to downtown Mumbai as in the past days prior to the new road
system and bridges it would have taken at least an hour if not more.
At the Oberoi Hotel we were greeted with the signature Indian
hospitality and quickly taken to our room which was distinctively classy
and much better than hotel rooms in the United States. As we entered
our rooms we received a telephone call inquiring into our immediate
needs and if we would like to have fruits sent to the room! I had
forgotten such hospitality since my visit to Hawaii where we stayed at
Halekulani an iconic hotel known for its hospitality and most likely the
only truly five-star hotel in the United States. After freshening up we
visited our friends in Bandra who occupy a penthouse apartment
overlooking the Indian Ocean. I also connected with people so as to
establish a relationship with one of the local hospitals where we plan
to extend our free care program in Mumbai. We also visited the Mazaar of
Haji Ali and the famous Shree Siddhi Vinayak Temple
Day 2
We traveled to Bhubaneswar in Odisha (Orissa) and we were lucky to meet
our friend Amit Chakrabarti who was on the same flight thereby easing
our transit to the beautiful Mayfair Resort Hotel. We met others from
the United States, who had traveled to India as delegates of the
Indo-U.S. Health Summit. That evening we were escorted to the Jain
Udayagiri (Hill of Sunrise) and Khandagiri (Broken Hills) Caves about
six kilometers west of the city. These caves were the dwellings of the
ascetic Jain monks who inhabited the caves in the 14th or 15th Century
mostly likely after Jainism no longer enjoyed royal patronage of an era
past.
The 18th Century Jain Temple on the top of the hill that can be seen
from the caves is dedicated to Rishabnath and most probably built on the
site of an earlier shrine. The temple enshrines some old tirthankers
and commands a panoramic view across the plains. The site attracts holy
man each January who intone versus from the Hindu epic and meditate.
Day 3
Bhubaneswar is rightfully known for its temples and holy places.
Immediately after a quick morning tea we piled into a bus that took us
to the Lingaraj Temples located within the city. The temple itself is an
architectural marvel that boasts the largest Shiv ling. The temple is
1,100 years old and dedicated to Harihara which is another name for Lord
Shiva. The compound wall is made up of sandstone (laterite) measuring
520' x 465' and the wall is about 7'6" in thickness!
In this temple both Shiva and Vishnu are worshiped which is a testament
of a growing Jagannath (form of Vishnu) influence. However, the top of
the template is adorned neither by Shiva's "Trishula" nor Vishnu's
•Chakram' and it has only Rama's arrow as Rama was a worshiper of Shiva.
After the temple visit we turned back to Mayfair for breakfast.
After a very sumptuous breakfast we piled back into the bus and
travelled to the site of Ashoka's scriptures carved on rock. Ashoka was a
Mauryan king in the 274 BCE a Chandragupta ruler of the Mauryan Empire.
He was known for his capital punishment for even the smallest
infraction. It is told that his cruel heart showed no mercy. The
invasion of the Kalinga Kingdom to access the Ganges River is known in
the history as one of the bloodiest warfare in ancient India. The
atrocities during the invasion of the Kalinga Empire are responsible for
his subsequent adoption of Buddhism and rejection of violence and
hatya.
From thence we piled back in the bus and travelled north to one of
Ashoka's 84,000 stuppas housing sacred relics of Gotama that he built
all over his empire.
Edward D'cruz interprets the Ashokan dharma as a "religion to be used as
a symbol of a new imperial unity and a cementing force to weld the
diverse and heterogeneous elements of the empire." Ashoka's intent was
to instigate "a practice of social behavior so broad and benevolent in
its scope that no person, no matter what his religion, could reasonably
object to it."
Our next stop was the Konark Sun Temple built with oxidized and
weathered ferruginous sandstone by King Narasimhadeva (1238-1250 CE).
The temple is a great example of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. It is also
one of the world heritage sites and it is considered as one of the seven
wonders of India. Legend has it that the temple was constructed by
Samba the son of Lord Krishna who was afflicted with leprosy and
subsequently cured by Surya, the Sun God in whose honor he built the
magnificent Konark Sun Temple. The chariot wheel in the picture is
actually a sun calendar and also a sundial which is marvelously accurate
especially considering that it was built in the twelfth century.
The next stop was the famous shoreline of Puri where our host had
planned a lunch under shamianas and the cooks had been awaiting our
arrival since eleven o'clock that morning until the time we actually
made it to the location at about 7:00 p.m. Even though the lunch was
delayed the food was sumptuous and the hospitality wonderful.
Unfortunately, the prevailing darkness denied us the pleasure of
enjoying the shoreline to the fullest and the mosquitoes had awakened
for their feasting pleasure! After the usual bathroom visits we were
back in the bus traveling. Our next stop was the Jagannath (Lord
Krishna) Temple of Puri that is on the shores of the Bay of Bengal
approximately 60 km from Bhubaneswar and it is one of the four most
revered temples of India. This temple was built in the twelfth century
by Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga and in its present day it is also
famous for the Rath Yatra chariot festival that takes place each year.
Day 4
Visit to the Kalinga Hospital arranged by our local sponsors. The
hospital is very much like most midsize hospitals in India providing
emergency medical care and also state of the art medical and surgical
specialty care.
Kalinga Hospital hosted a joint CME program with AAPI that covered a
gamut of medical topics presented by local and U.S. speakers.
Following a quick breakfast we boarded our Yatra bus accompanied by
fellow AAPItes to our next destination, the bird sanctuary at the
Chilika Lake (Chilka Lake) a brackish water lagoon spread over some
districts of Orissa at the mouth of the Daya River. It is the largest
coastal lagoon in India and the second largest in the world. It is the
largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian subcontinent.
This lagoon hosts about hundred and sixty species of bird in the peak
migratory season. Birds from the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and
remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Ladakh and
Himalayas come to this sanctuary. We were lucky to see some snub nose
dolphins that live in the lake however we could not go to the bird
sanctuary as we had to return back to Bhubaneswar to attend the
impressive Annual Dance Festival.
Day 5
We boarded a local Indigo Airline flight to Hyderabad on December 31,
2011 where we spent the night at the Taj Krishna Hotel bringing in the
New Year with a bang in the company of friends and acquaintances.
Day 6
We boarded the Indian Airline flight to Tirupati where we were received
by the president of the Indian Medical Association of Tirupati who also
provided us refreshments at the airport. From the airport we were taken
to Dr. Mallam's house in Tirupati for a home cooked late lunch following
which some of the members attended a dinner meeting of the Indian
Medical Association of Tirupati whereas others went directly to the
Venkata Hills in near proximity of the famous Tirupati Sri Balaji Temple
where we spent the night.
Early next morning we visited the ancient and sacred temple of Sri
Venkateswara that is located on the seventh peak, the Venkatachala
(Venkata Hill) of the Tirupati Hill, and lies on the southern banks of
Sri Swami Pushkarini. It is believed that by the Lord's presidency over
Venkatachala, that He has received the appellation, Venkateswara (Lord
of the Venkata Hill). He is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills.
The temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired a unique sanctity in Indian
religious lore. The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns
unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only
by worshipping Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkateswara.
The benefits acquired by a pilgrimage to Venkatachala are mentioned in
the Rig Veda and Asthadasa Puranas. In these epics, Sri Venkateswara is
described as the great bestower of boons. There are several legends
associated with the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala.
We were very fortunate to have a great darshan at the Sri Venkateswara
Balaji Temple very early in the morning where we also enjoyed the Arti
and received the blessings of the Lord.
Day 7
We returned to Hyderabad for the Indo-U.S. Health Summit that was well
attended. Our AAPI president, Dr. Sunita Kanumury extended a warm
welcome highlighting the goals and achievement of the AAPI at the
inaugural dinner also hosted at the Taj Krishna at its annex across the
street. This was the first summit that I attended and I was impressed
with the number of attendees and I am informed that this year the number
of delegates surpassed past summits.
Day 8
Chander and I took a detour to Goa where we spent the next three days at
an all-inclusive resort on pristine Colva Beach in Goa. The interlude
was welcoming as we had been traveling non-stop for the past few days
and we were greatly in need of rest and recreation. This was my second
visit to Goa the first during my medical school days when I visited Goa
with GMC field hockey team in 1968. Goa is now one of the most
commercial seashore resorts in India and most likely in the world where
tourists from Britain, Europe and Russia come to enjoy the sun and sand
as well as the wonderful cuisine. The sea water was warm and the sandy
seashore extended as far as the eye could see.
Day 9
We took a tour of Goa visiting the famous St. Francis Church, Maha Luxmi
Temple seen in the picture and the famous Miramar Beach.
Day 10
We decided to spend at the seashore enjoying the wonderful breeze, warm seawater and a great Goanese cuisine.
Day 11
We took the flight to Jaipur to attend the Pravasi Diwas, conference and
celebrations. The next day we planned a detour to visit the tomb of
Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer, a Sufi saint who is revered by many. Chander
had brought a •chador' from Boston that she placed over the tomb. Later
we travelled to Pushkar to pay homage to the only Brahma Temple in the
world.
Brahma the creator of the universe according to Hindu mythology was
cursed by his wife Savitri when he married a Gujjar by the name of
Gayatri. The sanctum sanctorum holds the central images of Brahma and
his second consort Gayatri. The priests in this temple are
traditionally from the Gujjar community as Gayatri was a Gujjar.
Day 12
The inaugural session of the 10th PBD held at the Birla Auditorium was a
spectacular gathering of 1500 delegates from 24 countries organized by
the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Following a Diva Ceremony the
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh welcomed the audience and introduced
the chief guest Kamala Persad Bissesar the Prime Minister of Trinidad
who gave an awe inspiring speech. The days at the PBD and the evening
events especially the one at Sisodia Palace was a visit to the bygone
days of Maharajas and Maharanis.
Day 13
We flew back to Mumbai staying overnight at the Hyatt Regency in preparation for our flight home next day.
I traveled approximately sixteen thousand miles from United States and
back and I traveled from the West Coast of India to the East Coast of
India. I traveled to Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Tirupati Goa
Jaipur, Ajmer and Pushkar and I am convinced that any attempt to change
our heritage, culture or language was miserably unsuccessful. I believe
that India has claimed itself as a nation of integrity; national pride
and heritage ad within my lifetime I believe it shall become a world
power but with its heart and soul intact.
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