In line of fire.........civil defence

JUst imagine staring at AK47 Barrel, @ VT station......on a wet dawn.....the commando manning the sand bag laden cubicle at Victoria terminus, waved with a hand signal move. I moved and found my cousin in line of fire........i asked him to move.I heard that cat has 900 lives, before it perishes, but am i lucky enough....yes so far so good. Life is ridden with peril, and that instant i decided to join civil defence.

Later we ( Cousin ) went to relax our mind elsewhere, preferably AC room to escape from extreme humidity. We entered a restricted room....where entry is prohibited without permission. . I was shocked to find the 40 video monitors of VT station from all angles......streaming live on the facade.The women commandos guarding them were stooping and taking a deep breath.....i wanted to photograph them for my own safety, but refrained myself and was prepared to face the consequence.. Suddenly they realised an intruder has entered their domain. We were thrown out by the arrogant security women. But we gave them a lesson of their lifetime.So friends when you do a good job pl remember there are no medals waiting for you and me at the independence day parade or republic day. but you have still perform, with an attitude of blank cheque when it comes to protecting people, place and property.Shankar guru turned out be a hero from Blore. He performed his duty wearing the CIVIL DEFENCE jacket. He prevented disaster, was proactive and seen all round the KSCA Stadium where the in augral ceremony was underway. Back stage he ensured that the sponsorers flag and banner did not fall on the VIP. He invited Kirmani for Viveknagar division launch. CD assignment is a reflex and pro active venture. He picked up a circular to the police constables to be alert about sabotage at KPL and handed over the CI. She was grateful for the gesture, she called up the concerned to alert him.
Rescue act does not require any sanction or paper work. He has demonstrated it is beyond doubt, that at his age he can perform his duties, like a college student. Come join the party and experience the adventure beyond compare.........join Civil defence for it is worth a billion. We can perform the duty to protect people and property.
Civil Defence was incorporated in 1968 by an act of Parliament, still 42 years later CD is unknown to 99.9 of the Indians. The brand and the organisation was dormant. Now the mandate from the Home ministry is to accelerate and develop a model for All India. Join civil defence @ Bangalore. Contact 9844308466 and walk the talk

Stonage to Shivgange

Just imagine on a glorious Sunday morning Khalid arrives in Bangalore weary from his Rajdhani journey. I hug him and receive him and he checks in and talks about checking out or I mean cancelling his ticket to Delhi. We have a quick breakfast Chicken sukka and wholesome wheat bread and rush to Cant Railway station after dropping my wife at the bank enroute.

We spend 20 minutes on the token system to cancell the ticket and drive back Home for Khalid to fresh up and be ready for some action. Sridhar anna arrives on his swift and we exchange notes on various facets of our life..........including certain celebrities of MS............Jammy boy, Tanna di, Shalu_Dayani, Faire, Sonika, Fenil, Jasmine, Nishant, Paulose etc etc.........Come on guys we had to kill some time, waiting for Mazhar and Azam to arrive. Finally after nearly 2 hours we guide them on GPS mode to our residence vide cell conversation looking out from our balcony. It was real fun........to guide them till the security gate.

Now we had to plan our trip for the day so that we are totally engaged and what a way to begin the trip with refuelling our bellies and diesel tank of Innova. We had the chicken curry and few slices of bread................along with cutting chai and grapes to chew. I packed some Taj wheat halwa, Sprite and little savouries for the trip. Eroute we checked out STONA 2010 exhibition at the BIEC on Tumkur road. Azam bhai was busy collecting data on various options for his construction project. We were having a gala time snapping up all the hues of stonage. Majority of the vendors on display were from Granite industry and cutting tools. We were astonished at the semi clad females who manning the stall to invite the customers into their stall. I used to only ask them only two questions do you have an office in blore, and what is the price per square of their wares. Don t read between the lines........guys..........We had a ride in the golf vehicle, and tried to emulate Tiger woods lifestyle..............oh my gosh we are spilling some beans literally........to virtual world.

After a number of photo ops at the exhibition we were sufficient cooled by the air-conditioned enviorns, which left us hungry. We decided to have Veg in the noon, and Azam knew a joint which was a semi-dhaba. We quickly gulped rotis and fried rice and omlet and proceeded to our heritage trek to Shivgange hills.

Shivgange towers over 1350 meters strectching over 4 kms from the ground level parking bay. My previous two experiences of climbing were during summer months which leaves one sapped and zapped for breath. The steps on the hillock is quite steep, so one should be well prepared with sufficient glucose and salt to replenish lost energy. I did not want Mazhar, Khalid and Azam to be put off. Sridhar aborted the ascent due to health concerns. He waited for return at Innova listening to stories dished out by the villagers.

Historical Preview :
Shivgange was popular from the Hoysala period with Veerabhadra temple, Shiva temple and many other temples in honour of Hindu gods. This place became popular because of Queen Shantala's suicide from the hilltop. The fabled tale is covered by me in the Bellagavi post. Do check out in Malnad Musings

The first major landmark point on the hillock is a monolithic granite Nandi on a deteour. We skipped two temples Veerabhadra and an ancient ruined temple. We proceed towards Olakallu theerta meaning grinding stone underground spring. Well despite being a regular climber, i was heaving breathlessly and so were Azam and Mazhar. But they quickly recovered with a dosage of Sprite.

Khalid was enjoying the trek, and on hindsight i found them really enjoying the cooling breeze enviorns in the evening. It was soothing dicussions about a member which kept them going with great fervour. In between we shot of pictures in various background with Sridhar's camera. We were warned by caretakers not to carry plastic carrybags for the fear of monkey menace. Naturally they act as predators on the prasad and eatables. Cant blame these monkeys some homosapien have taught them how to snatch eatables, if one does not offer them gracefully. Better to carry some bananas and feed them i suppose or else one has to carry a bamboo stick to scare them. We carried the packet of Halwa, Kitchen knife, Tissue paper, Mineral water and salt for keeping us company.

Enroute i acted as Mineral water vendor, Dacoit with a knife waylaying pilgrims, Seeking blessings from a saint after committing sins galore, all were lapped up in good humour. Khalid wanted to try his luck on drawing water from the spring. He failed once, but never gave because he was guided by another lady with regard to techinique. Behold the miraculous spring water hit his fingers and he leaped in joy since he tasted the Nectar of Life. It is fabled people who are able to fetch and drink this holy water will be blessed.