Friday, April 17, 2009

Amit in Patna, Bihar (3rd April 09)


 
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Hi Guys,

I am in Patna (Bihar) and leaving for Lucknow (UP) today - 3rd April.

Northeast is over. This experience has completely changed my life. It gave a completely new direction to my Mission. I have really changed as a human being after this, which I cant really decribe in words. All I can say is "Life is precious and very short - value it". "Freedom is a priveledge - Don't take it for granted". Do what you can for others - You will experience a beautiful feeling - It will teach you the true meaning of Life. Life & love is in giving - Not in taking and possessing and owning and cotrolling. Material pleasures are temporary - You cannot take them with you after you die. The deeds you do while you are alive is what really counts. I remembered the Bible - Do unto others as you would like to be done unto you & The Gita - We came with nothing - We will go with nothing. What is ours today, was somebody else's before us and what is ours today will be somebody else'e tomorrow. I am not very good at quoting the Gita & Bible, but you can figure out what I mean. The only true thing that we can say belongs to us or we "own" is our soul. And the soul is everlasting and immortal. Everything else is temporary.Ok i'm getting too deep, but I guess, this is what this experience has done to me.

As for the driving all alone, Northeast Driving was a different ballgame all together. It was all hills, mountains, jungles, forests. Army convoys, terrorists, curfew after 5.00pm, sunset by 4.30pm 5.00pm. Roads are 45 degree angles in the hills. You cant speed more than 40 kmph. I went to China, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal & Bangladesh borders. So its 5 countries + 8 states Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh. The entire Northeast drive was 5555 kms.

It took me 36 days to cover 5 countries + 8 states & 5555 kms. It was tough !!!!!!

Kargil seems like a walk in the park now, but I now feel expect the unexpected, so I can't comment till I get there..........Nathula, the China border 14,300 feet above sea level very steep roads and snow, Kargil is only 11,800 kms.

I stayed at Rangia Military Station with the army in Assam after I drove out of Arunachal Pradesh. I then moved onto Siliguri the next day 30th - 31st March. I went to a school run by my uncle who was in the Army Capatain J.K.Sengupta. His tank blew up in the 1965 war where he went blind. He now runs a school for the blind, deaf, dumb and physically challenged children. I spent hours there with the children. They are so gifted. The make lovely handicrafts, which I am going to help in putting in retail stores for sale. They all, over 175 students came to meet me and the saw my car, felt and touched my car and said some wonderful things to me which they put down in a beautiful letter in braile. This is the first letter I have received in braile and its a real treasure. The other children wrote to me in Bengali. The blind kids felt my face and my car to feel what I looked like. In a nutshell they said that they always thought that the Dove or white pigeon was the bird of peace, but first time they realised that the messenger of peace was a man who flies in his white car as the doors, when open, represent the wings of a bird that spread open before take off for flight. They also felt my car and told me - "Uncle we can feel and see things normal people can't, and you are not alone, as God is sitting in the seat beside you while you drive and he is your co-pilot and will guide you through all dangers safely." The kids said that first they wanted to grow up and become doctors and engineers and scientists, but after meeting me and hearing me speak they wanted to wanted to grow up and become me - become like me and drive around and spread love and peace and help the people who need help. I was so touched by all this which I cannot explain.

I then moved on to Patna. Siliguri is the entry and exit point of the northeast. You have to cross it to go in & cross it again to go out. I met lovely Doctors who were family friends, who do a lot for society. Their wives have an organisaion - Shilpi - for women empowerment and work who joined and supported me. Bihar Motor sports club also supported me. I met the Governor of Bihar at the Raj Bhavan. Had my press meet and am off to Lucknow - 3rd April. I met the people of Bihar as I moved on.

I have attached the paper clippings of Patna.

The number I am reachable on is 9987017291.

Amit Rajan Lall
at
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My Message to every Indian...

Read this carefully. your Freedom depends on it!

Unity is Strength. Divide & Rule policy earlier lost us and cost us our Freedom. Today history is repeating itself. The people running our Country today are separating each state. They are trying to gain power and control of each individual state, thereby setting it apart from the others. Don't they know that merging more states makes India powerful, dividing each state and having internal conflicts makes India weaker? For e.g. the people today say "Jai Maharashtra", "Jai Karnataka", "Jai Haryana". WHY?

This is ONE COUNTRY - ONE NATION. our INDIA. all we have to say is. JAI HIND ! If we don't start participating in the events of our Country today, it will be too late and we would be slaves once again fighting for our Freedom! We as Indian Citizens have rights. We are a Democracy. We have freedom of speech, but people here are afraid to speak up. We are independant and have a right to live life on our terms.

Here women are being beaten in our Country and forced to wear clothes as per the likes and dislikes of our so called "leaders". Women don't have a right to wear what they want? Women don't have a right to drink alcohol after the age of 18 which is legal in our Country? Women are not allowed to talk to men and date men? Are these signs of a free Democratic India?

"Bapu" - Mahatma Gandhi is The Father of Our Nation. He preached Ahimsa (Non-Violence), all there is in our Country is violence & terror! If we follow Violence, why is Bapu the father of the Nation? If we follow Bapu, why are the Indians leading our Country resorting to Violence?India is a Secular Country. We are known to be tolerant of all religions. Why do we have these comunal riots? Why are the Hindu & Muslim constantly fighting and killing each other when they all are from the same motherland - INDIA, they have the same red blood, they eat the same food, they drink the same water, they breathe the same air, where is the secularism and tolerance?

Is this the INDIA we have become? Our people fought for our Freedom and gave their lives for us to enjoy this Independance. They shed their blood and sweat to give us a better future. Is this the future they had in mind for us? Today India is not a Democracy, Its a Dictatorship, dictated by Goondas (Goons & Criminals) who resort to violence to show their power. They are making the common man fearful and cowardly and supressing them & the common man is allowing this and is being supressed. Hitler ruled and now Taliban is coming! Is this what you want for INDIA? Do you want to bring children into this world who live under fear & terror? I think not.

So either Start Speaking up and fight for the bright future of the youth of tomorrow...or stop giving birth to more children bringing them here to live in fear and die.

We can loose our lives. But we cannot loose our freedom!

-Jai Hind


My Mission
The Drive for Peace and Unity
One Man – Covering One Country – With One Message

The Objective:

To prove that we Indians are a resilient lot who refuse to be shaken by a bunch of fanatics who choose the most cowardly method of trying to make a point, to slaughter innocents! To also spread the message that this drive around the sea and land boundaries of our country is the symbolism for the legendary “Lakshman Rekha” which would and should remain impenetrable by sheer unity. This unison aims at galvanizing the people against external threat and frustrating the enemy.

The Sentiment:

I, Amit Lall, am proud to be an Indian and will be attempting “The Drive For Peace and Unity”. Bombay was attacked by terrorists from the sea on 26th November 2008. I live at Churchgate and was lying unwell and helpless in my house when disaster struck our beloved city. I was angered and frustrated that I was physically unable to rush to help the victims of this carnage. In order to awaken the dormant unity amongst the people inhabiting within our “Lakshman Rekha” and to instill security consciousness, resulting in constant vigil against the enemy, I would like to drive along our sea coast starting from Bombay in the West, heading southward to Kanyakumari, then eastward to West Bengal and Nagaland, and then up north to Kargil, along the India – Pakistan border, and then return to Bombay via Delhi, halting at India Gate to salute the martyrs of our country. This mission will also convey a strong sentiment to our enemies, especially in the west and the east, that if they can’t scare one Indian such as me, with their cowardly act, how do they expect to scare the entire country – with this they should fathom the combined strength of the entire nation!

We are proud to be Indians, and we don’t fear anything if we stand united and stand by and protect our Country from any negative elements.

The Contribution:
I believe in the power of the mind and positive thinking. “What the mind can conceive, Man can achieve.” This would be my humble contribution to our people and I request for your support to accomplish this cause that I strongly believe in and stand for. Whichever State of the Union that I pass through, I would also meet the police of that State and the Armed Forces based there, and express my gratitude for what they are doing for our country and for the safety of every Indian. I will appreciate a cavalcade of drivers and bikers, to follow me to show support for the cause, even if they can do so only for a short distance. I will also like to share the trauma that we Bombayites suffered, with people I meet and interact with on my journey through all the Indian States.

The Logistics:

This Mission will be adequately covered by the Media and splashed on Television, Radio and the Newspapers for the benefit of the inland inhabitants. One Man – Covering One Country – With One Message.

The number “26” has proved disastrous for India and is now associated with tragedy and bad luck as the following events on this date are embedded in people’s psyche:

The Tsunami – 26th December
The Kutch Earthquake – 26th January
The Gujarat Floods – 26th June
The Bombay Train Blasts – 26th July
The Ahmedabad Blasts – 26th September
The Latest Terrorists’ Attacks in Bombay (Taj, Oberoi, CST & Nariman House) – 26th November

I Flagged off and launched this mission from the Gateway of India, on 26th January, 2009, our Republic Day. This mission and pilgrimage strives at removing the evil effects of the number 26 associated with disaster and death. After lighting a flame at Gateway of India and the CST, I will also light a flame at every place I stop and request the brave men of the State Police and Armed Forces to join me in doing so. When I reach New Delhi, I will light a candle at India Gate as a tribute to all the courageous Indians who have sacrificed their lives for our country. I will then continue on my Drive for Peace and finally return home by once again touching the Gateway of India on 26th February, 2009, thereby completing my Mission.

I will attempt to complete my journey in 100 days. The periphery of India is approximately 15,000 kms. I will drive approximately 10 – 12 hours a day and cover 500 - 600 kms. a day. I will be driving through 26 states. The only states I will not be entering would be Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh as they are in the interiors of India.

SPONSORS
I will be staying at TAJ Hotels across the country as Mr.Ratan Tata - Chairman Indian Hotels has been kind enough to make the TAJ group of Hotels my Hospitality partner across India for my drive.
I am driving my own Hyundai Accent which I have had for the past 8 years and it has proven its endurance and power, a car which can actually complete the entire drive of India without any hindrance. I shall use only one car and not change cars for the entire drive. I have the Hyundai Motor India Limited team to check and do the necessary touch ups to the car as and when required at any state across the Country.

COME JOIN THE 2nd FREEDOM MOVEMENT...

Jai Hind!