जो भी ईश्वर को देखता है
Sometimes, a really fine piece of travel writing comes along that isn’t even about a place. Gagan Gill’s ‘जो भी ईश्वर को देखता है’ (Whoever sees God..) is one such piece that is ostensibly about the writer’s desire to visit Kailash-Manasarovar, but actually becomes a reflection on myth, faith, the plight of the Tibetan refugees who cannot return to their land and her own sense of finally letting go her husband after his death more than a year ago.
Writing her will in anticipation of a difficult journey, she says, “यात्रा और आत्महत्या से पहले, जहाँ तक हो सके, सब साफ़ छोड़ना चाहिए…” (Before a journey or a suicide, as far as possible, you must leave everything cleared up). Kailash - Manasarovar is of course a strenous journey, but its reputation in myth and legend is that of a ‘देवभूमि’, the land of the Gods. I found the calm acceptance of possible death on such a journey incredible.
For the English translation - here.
I was struck by the conciseness of your words & a reflective response to this travelogue. Wish it were a little more detailed! Thanks any way.
Gagan ji, thanks for dropping in here. Yes, it is a bit short, since I didn’t mean it as a review but as a link-post…
‘Whoever sees God’……what a striking title ….that also for a virtual travelogue . Yet so true and symbolic ….seeing nature in its own splendour is definitely very close to seeing God…
when i was in my teens , i used to often wonder .”has anyone really seen God?”…..i was answered later-on …when i stood at the edge of Grand Canyon , at sunset ..huge , magnificient ..and I so insignificant ….and i thought ” oh , ya , we DO see GOD , at times “……..
cyan_sky, not only the title, the piece too is very interesting. I hope you could read it. It has a calmness to it and a quiet assurance that God is to be found, which even if you don’t agree with, you can appreciate.