As social beings, humans tend to seek out the familiar in the midst of the unfamiliar. This familiarity gives them a sense of security above everything. One such experience was in the remote vastness of the Himalayas. The Indian Army requires all travelers in Ladakh to check in and check out when traveling across the province, and permits are issued only after verification of identity. At a check post in Tso Moriri in the Rupshu mountains, i had a brush with familiarity :) Where are you traveling from...? a stern voiced soldier with a distinct North Indian accent questioned me. The tourist season was coming to a close and i was probably the only traveler in Tso Moriri at that time. Mumbai Where do you live in Mumbai? This time two locals propped up the question. The last time i was asked about Mumbai was in relation with Salman Khan in rural Gujarat. i could now expect something funny. Upon receiving my response, the locals nodded sagely as if they knew where was Goregaon. The guard cabin seemed to be popping up soldiers and guards one after the other it seemed. A third voice asked in a familiar tongue Marathi yeta ka? Do you know Marathi? Yes i do! Very much! my response in his mother tongue. The question and answer series which upto this point had been interrogatory almost changed into hearty dialogue and bonhomie. Everyone Marathi or otherwise began to smile while the Maharashtrian smiled the broadest, all teeth shining white under the Himalayan sun. After some questions about our roots, family and Ladakh and some humour we parted as friends with cheers. All of this because i spoke a language which reminded the BSF soldier of his home back in Maharashtra. #familiar, #Ladakh, #travel
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 07:45:22 +0000
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