My response to Mr Kedar Singh Rawat:
Dear Mr Kedar Singh Rawat,
Thank you very much for the letter of appreciation to me on completion of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
I cherish the memories of the yatra; especially the help rendered by the brave men of ITBP 7th battalion in helping us cross deep trenches, rogue rivers, sudden water-falls and of course the snow laden mountain and its valley with land-slides and narrow slippery path-ways.
Right at the office of the Ministry of External Affairs - New Delhi, the officer who addressed us was so positive in his talk and assured us that we will have a safe trip! This boosted my determination and helped me look forward to the trek with hope and happiness and removed all my fears.. Kudos to that gentleman (by the way, was that you??)
At one point after Chialake, I was struggling to walk as the terrain had too many deep marshy areas to cross. One of the soldiers, whom I had not seen till that day, just came and offered to carry my handbag and helped me walk with ease. I was not willing to burden him with my bag but he insisted and carried it for me. I was honestly moved to tears! This bag had the common money of our full batch and also my personal money in Indian Rupees and US Dollars. I should add that the bag came back to me in tact though he walked much ahead of me and I reached the destination many hours later. Thanks to this jawan who lived up to the tradition of your battalion!
On my trek to Lipulekh pass from Nabidhang, in the middle of the night, it was an ITBP soldier who gave me water and adjusted my head hood and gave me courage to continue my trek as I was walking alone in that dark night. I felt that God had come in his form that night especially for me!
While crossing a wide mountain-river that night, I slipped and fell into the river - it was another ITBP soldier who quickly pulled me out and saved me from getting washed out! My salutes to him!
That same night, my pony slipped and dropped me from its back and I fell on the ground with one leg still on its back.... my head hit the ground and within few seconds, ITBP soldier came running and lifted me from the ground, put me on the pony and patted my back and gave me encouraging words and urged me not to lose heart. I took it as God's command and kept a brave face and continued in the dark cold night though I was fully wet and shivering from top to bottom.
All these small accidents took its toll when I reached the top of the Lipulekh pass and I started shivering violently. 2 of my batchmates, Anuradha Reddy and Radha hugged me and gave me warmth. Two ITBP soldiers quickly lit a small fire and made me and other yatris who were sick, get warmth and feel better.
Hence, I got complete help and support from these brave men of ITBP especially on the last day on the Indian side which made me complete my Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. I will never be able to forget those men or ITBP.
Please keep up the good work! My salute to you and to your whole team! AT any point of time, any of your men need any help in Mumbai, please ask them to get in touch with me. I will do my best to be of support to them.
With warm regards and salutes,
Uma Shankar
Yatri in I batch of KMY 2013
27th Sept 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment