Appropriate Footwear

“Ready for the trek, Banta!” Santa announces, pointing to his feet.

“Light and airy!”

“My feet will be able to breathe!”

“These heavy, suffocating trekking shoes you are wearing are so old-fashioned!”

Banta looks down at Santa’s flimsy slippers, then at the steep, rocky, and sometimes muddy trail ahead.

He sighs. “Santa, your feet might be able to breathe, but I fear they will soon be weeping.”

“Weeping? Why?” Santa asks, offended.

“Because you are asking a city Babu to do the job of a mountain Coolie,” Banta says, using an analogy.

“These slippers are made for walking on smooth, flat city floors.”

“This trail is rough, uneven, and full of sharp stones and slippery patches.”

“Your slippers offer no grip, no protection for your ankles, and no shield for your toes.”

“Nonsense!” Santa retorts.

“I have strong legs!”

“I will be careful!”

The trek begins. For the first hundred meters of paved path, Santa is fine.

But as soon as the real trail starts, his ordeal begins.

His slippers slip on loose gravel.

A sharp stone jabs his unprotected sole, making him yelp.

A small stream of mule waste flows over his toes.

Within half an hour, he has stumbled thrice, his feet are sore, and he looks utterly miserable.

Finally, his slipper gets stuck in a muddy patch and the strap breaks.

He stands there, one foot bare, looking completely defeated as steady streams of pilgrims in sturdy shoes walk past him.

Banta, who has been walking patiently beside him, finally opens his backpack and pulls out a spare pair of simple but tough canvas shoes.

“Perhaps your ‘breathing’ feet would now like to try some sensible shoes?” he asks with a kind smile.

A humbled Santa gratefully puts on the shoes.

“Banta… you were right,” he mutters, embarrassed.

“These chappals were not made for this path.”

“My feet are not weeping; they are screaming in protest!”

“I thought I was being fashionable, but I was just being a fool.”

संता – बंता की इस जुगलबन्दी से आज हमने क्या सीखा:-   

• पहाड़ो में अच्छा जूता – विलासिता नहीं जरूरत / Sturdy Footwear is Non-Negotiable: पहाड़ो में आप कुछ भी करो, आपको चलना होगा। अतः यहाँ आपके पास और कुछ हो या न हो परन्तु आरामदेहक जूते जरूर होने चाहिये। केवल चप्पल या सैंडल या ऊँची हील वाले जूतों के भरोसे न रहे /   Always wear comfortable trekking or sports shoes with good grip for walking or trekking in the mountains. Absolutely avoid slippers, sandals, or high heels.
• अपने पैर को बचाये / Protect Your Feet: एक अच्छा जूता पहाड़ो के ऊबड़ – खाबड़ रास्तो पर प्रायः लगने वाली ठोकरों के साथ ही आपको ठंड से भी बचाता है / Proper shoes protect against injuries from sharp rocks, provide ankle support on uneven terrain, and keep feet dry and warm.
• तैयारी हमेशा जागरूकता के साथ / Awareness at the Source: यात्रा संचालित करने वाले व्यावसायिक उपक्रमों के साथ ही सरकार को भी पहाड़ो में आने वाले पर्यटकों तथा तीर्थ यात्रियों को इस विषय में जागरूक करना चाहिये – यह उनका नैतिक दायित्व है / Tour operators and authorities should make it mandatory to check for and advise pilgrims on appropriate footwear at the starting points of treks.

संता – बंता की यह जुगलबन्दी आपको कैसी लगी, कृपया हमें जरुर बताये 

व 

इस जुगलबन्दी को बेहतर बनाने के लिये अपने सुझाव अवश्य दें।

हमें हमेशा की तरह आपके सुझावों, प्रतिक्रियाओं व कटाक्षो का बेसब्री से इंतजार रहता हैं और सचमानिये इसी के आधार पर हम अपने आप में, अपनी सोच व रचनात्मकता में सुधार करने को प्रेरित होतेहैं। 

सो अच्छा – बुरा जैसा आपको महसूस हुवा हो, कमेंट जरुर करते रहें।