We have gained speed, but we have lost the Ras. The new “shortcut to heaven” has a hidden cost: the erosion of the communal bonds and traditional wisdom that once kept our villages safe. A moving reflection on why true resilience is found in our shared journeys, not just our destinations.
Santa Banta
Santa’s Speedy Foundation vs. Banta’s “Patient Earth” Method
People of the Himalayan region understood the importance firm foundation and for ensuring stability of structures they resorted to practices wherein ground settlement was taken care of by keeping the foundation trench open all through the monsoon period.
Santa’s Free Gift and the Thekedar’s Debt
A Debris Disposal Policy establishing clear accountability & making the generator of the debris legally responsible for its safe disposal, with penalties for non-compliance, has the potential of mitigating disasters and rejuvenating the Himalayas.
The Overloaded Jeep and the Tired Khachchar
Overloading is one of the main causes of road accidents, and in order to reach our destination in time we should never board an overloaded vehicle. Passengers should refuse to travel in overloaded vehicles and report offenders to the authorities.
The Shiny Car and the Mirror of Discontent
The visible disparity between urban and rural lifestyles, often highlighted by visiting relatives, is a significant driver of out-migration among youth. Overcoming this requires tangible investment in rural infrastructure and opportunities to reduce the development gap.
Santa’s Eternal Dam vs Banta’s Dam with a Blocked Throat
Santa is admiring a picture of a massive concrete dam, its wall holding back a vast, beautiful blue lake. “Look at this magnificent structure, Banta!” he says with awe. “Built with so much concrete and steel, it’s as strong as the mountain itself!” “A monument to our nation’s progress!” “It will provide electricity for our […]
Appropriate Footwear
Appropriate footwear could make your life easy if you are out there in the Himalayas for trekking either for fun or for pilgrimage and inappropriate footwear can risk your safety.
The Ghost of the DMMC
Santa finds a brilliantly simple, old guide on earthquake-safe construction, prompting Banta to tell the tragic story of its publisher, the DMMC. He describes how the state performed an “institutional lobotomy,” dismantling its own DRR ‘brain’ and losing its invaluable expertise and memory.
The Forgotten Leaf and the Weeping Ghost
Improvisation of traditional healing practices can ensure much needed medical assistance in remote areas that have shortage of mainstream health professionals and health care facilities.
The Discomfort Thermometer
At a crowded mela, Santa wants to push deeper into the crowd while Banta insists on leaving as soon as he feels uncomfortable. Banta teaches him that the time to escape a crowd is when you still can, framing it as an act of personal and collective responsibility.