A City Orientation Tour in Geneva (Part--II)

Geneva city near the Lake

River Promenade

Water Fountain

Water Fountain

  After visiting the W.H.O. building complex, we went to stroll near the Geneva Lake, the main attraction in the heart of the city. It is surrounded by busy promenades, shops and restaurants. We saw the world's tallest water fountain "Jet d'Eau"(water jet) spouting water up to a height of 140 meters from the surface of the lake. In 1886 the engineers installed a hydraulic power station to supply water from the lake to city's fountains, houses and factories. A special valve was set up to regulate pressure. A jet of water sprang from the lake entering the river Rhone gradually rising to higher level. Since 1951 five hundred liters of water has been pumped per second at a speed of  two hundred kms per hour so that the jet of water from the fountain may reach up to a height of 140 meters. A miracle of Nature enhanced by technology ! The silver spurt of water leaping into the sky and falling down like a shower of laughing pearls is indeed a fantastic sight to onlookers !

Floral Clock

Floral Clock

 Later we went to see the beautiful floral clock " L'horloge Flurie" (flower clock) located at the western edge of a garden called "Jardin Anglais" ( English Garden). This giant flower clock is was set up on the southern side of the Lake Geneva.It is is made of 6,500 varieties of plants and flowers. It has eight floral circles whose colors change with seasons. It was designed in 1955 to honor the 400-year old famous watch industry of Switzerland. The seconds hand of Geneva's flower clock is the longest (more than 2.5 meters long) in the world. The diameter of the clock is five meters and the circumference is 15.7 meters. The colorful arrangement of flowers and leaves in concentric circles is a beautiful  work of floral art and technical expertise. In 2005 in Teheran a floral clock with 15-meter diameter was set up which is now the biggest flower clock in the world. Of course the first flower clock was designed by James Ritchie in 1903 in West Princess Garden, Edinburgh. If you have fancy for branded high-quality watches, you can visit the shops at  Rue Du Rhone, where you will find most sophisticated and latest varieties of watches and clocks -- if you can afford to buy."

Reformation Wall

Reformation Wall

Park Des Bastions

Inside the Park Des Bastions

  Another worth visiting place in Geneva is the famous "Reformation Hall" near the elegant "Place de Neuve" in the beautiful park "Parc des Bastions". Geneva has been one of the important centers  of the Reformation since 1565. The giant statues of Europe's major reformers (Jean Calvin, Guillame Farel, Theodore de Beze and John Knox) are engraved on the wall along with Geneva's maxim "Post Tenebras Lux" (Light after darkness) , which is also the motto of the Reformation Movement. This historic monument highlights the prominent role played by Geneva during Reformation and also Geneva's glowing tribute to the pioneers of Reformation.

While going by bus on the highway we saw a huge structure shining like a golden globe in the late evening time. It is called "The Globe of Science and Innovation" or "Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire" (CERN), world's largest laboratory in Particle Physics, where nearly ten thousand physicists do research on unravelling the secrets of the universe and Big Bang Theory. This building is 27 meters high and 40 meters in diameter and is spherical in shape, symbolizing the planet Earth. On the ground floor there is "Universe of Particles Exhibition" to acquaint you with scientific facts about the inner structure of particles. We were not able to visit this marvellous laboratory due to lack of time.

The Globe of Science & Innovation

Inside View

St. Peter's Cathedral

Church of Calvin, St.Peter's Cathedral

 Another historic monument we had not seen is St.Peter's Cathedral built in 12th century with later extensions done in 16th century. This cathedral was the center of the Reformation Movement. One can have a panoramic view of the city from the tower of this cathedral. To reach the tower of this cathedral one has to climb 157 steps. Besides these, there are more than thirty museums and galleries such as International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMCO), The Foundation Bodmer Library Museum etc.,

Business Park Hotel

Business Park Hotel

  











 After this three-hour busy orientation tour we rushed back to our most comfortable and cosy hotel "Business Park Hotel" to have our Indian dinner and lie down soon. Our tour manager, on a precautionary note, mentally prepared us saying that in European hotels we should not expect spacious rooms and luxurious facilities. Even in the so-called three-star hotels we have not found coffee kettles, water bottles, trays with simple things like sugar sachets, coffee powder packets, sugar and biscuits. Even a writing pad and stationery articles were not seen,-- not to speak of journals, books and newspapers. But here in Geneva at this hotel I felt glad to see a writing pad with stationery along with a proforma requesting our feedback. In most of the European hotels even free water bottles are not supplied.You have to go down to the bar  and buy a bottle priced at seven Euros. But in all hotels complimentary breakfast is provided.

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March 1st, 2016                                                   Somaseshu Gutala

A City-Orientation Tour in Geneva (Part--I)

U.N.O. Building Front View

Ariana Park

Celestial Sphere near Woodrow Wilson Monument

Most of you might have heard of Geneva which has the privilege of having many international organizations and institutions, apart from being a cultural and commercial hub. This French-speaking city is set in between the Alpine peaks and Jura hills, beside Lake Geneva (also called Lake Leman) from which the Rhone river flows. It took almost three hours for us to travel from Lucerne to this historic city. Our luxury coach halted before the conglomeration of the U.N.O. building complex where we were asked to get down and relax for a while. The great building "Palace Des Nations" is the European head quarters of the U.N.O. It is seen in the middle of the Ariana Park on the banks of the Lake Geneva. Built in between 1929 and 1936 it was the main head quarters of the League of Nations until 1946. It has been the U.N.O. head quarters since 1966. The white edifice pedestalled on a flight of steps can be seen with an approach road flanked on both sides by a row of poles with fluttering  flags of various nations. Just in the center of the open space there is a monument called "Woodrow Wilson's Monument," a spherical globe with various continents etched on it. There are thirty-four conference rooms and two thousand and eight hundred offices. Every year more than eight thousand meetings and six hundred conferences take place in these buildings. Visitors are allowed to see only a few rooms. "Consultation Halls", :The Hall of Human Rights" and "Assembly Hall" are some of the prominent rooms.

Broken Chair Monument

Statue of Mahatma Gandhi at U.N.O.

UNESCO

       

W.H.O.

 Many of the rooms are decorated with artistic carvings, statues and artifacts donated by various nations. Nearly 25,000 delegates come here to negotiate on their national and international matters and affairs. The tour manager showed us from a distance the office complexes of International Labor Organization (I.L.O.), World Trade Organization (WTO) , United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) , International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)  and World Trade Organization (WTO).  We saw a huge twelve-meter high  three-legged wooden monument called "The Broken Chair", which was set up opposite the U.N.O.Building complex, as sad reminder of the tragedy caused to people who lost their lives or became physically disabled due to explosion of landmines. We looked at the statue of our Father of Nation, "Mahatma Gandhi" set up in Ariana Park. A sense of pride and delight swelled within our bosoms on seeing this black granite figure of Mahatma Gandhi sitting in meditative posture. This statue ,gifted by the Indian Government, was unveiled on the fourteenth of November in 2007.

Peace Monument

   

Rebirth Sculpture

Hall Of Human Rights 

 Just behind the the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) building, many statues concerned with health and social awareness themes were set up to emphasize and highlight the humanitarian principles of the U.N.O. such as Aid for Visually Challenged People, Vaccination Drive, Friendship Symbol etc. We spent some time breathing fresh air and strolling through the garden, feeling a sense of pride that we had the rare opportunity of visiting this most prestigious organization which has nearly 193 countries as members and where so many issues of international importance are discussed and decisions are taken.

Another important thing  we noticed here  is that the U.N.O. has set a good example to all her member countries by adopting Eco-friendly and energy-saving methods such as re-cycling its resources, use of solar energy and cultivation of greenery . Let us hope that this reputed organization will succeed in her efforts in fulfilling her noble ideals: Equal rights for all human beings and all nations, economic and social progress, disarmament and maintenance of international peace and security.

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24th February, 2016                                        Somaseshu Gutala

The Lake City of Old Chapels and Bridges-- (Part--II)

The Lion Monument (Lowen Platz)

 Our tour coordinator told us that generally Swiss People are peaceful and tradition-respecting people who do not converse and mix with strangers easily. He also informed that the name of the city "Lucerne"(originally appeared as Luciaria in written records in 840 A.D.) came from that of the Benedictine Monastery of St. Leodegar founded here in 730 A.D. Later we went to see the famous Lion Monument in the small park located near Lowenplatz (Lion Square). The sculpture of a dying lion was hewn from the face of a sandstone rock commemorating the bravery and heroic struggle of the Swiss guards who sacrificed their lives to protect the French king Louis XVI during an attack by revolutionaries on Tuileries Palace in 1792.  The sculptor expressed the majestic and undying bravery of the wounded lion in lying position with arrows pierced into its strong muscular body. In the park there is a pond surrounded by garden. The wrinkles on its face conveyed a sense of agony coupled with death-defying noble dignity. The inscription in Latin "Helvetiorune Fidei Ac Virtuti" (To the loyalty  and bravery of the Swiss" was seen on the top of the monument. Nearly 760 Swiss mercenary soldiers lost their lives. This life-like monument was designed by a Danish sculptor, Thorvaldsen and was executed in sandstone by Lucas Ahorn, a German stone-mason from Southern Germany. This marvellous monument is 20 feet in height and 10 feet in length. Mark Twain, the famous American writer, described this monument as "the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world."

Casagrande, the gift shop, Lucerne

Interior View of Casagrande

 In the market place there are many shops and restaurant. We went to "Casagrande", a shop where one can buy gift items, Swiss chocolates and souvenirs. We bought a Swiss knife (a multi-purpose tool with many blades), a few pens and key chains.Wherever we went, we  found our countrymen working as helpers in sale counters. As Lucerne is a tourist destination, people can understand  English and we did not face any problem. Though the currency of Swiss is Swiss Franks, Euros are accepted everywhere.

Business Park Hotel, Geneva

 Thus ended our first phase of our day's journey as we have to reach Geneva by evening where we are going to stay and spend one night. To save time our tour manager organized a short trip through  Geneva city i.e. a sort of city orientation tour before releasing us from hectic schedule to rest our limbs in the cosy hotel "Business Park Hotel" after having our Indian dinner. It would have been better if we had been  introduced to some of the native Swiss dishes, of course, with the option given for both veggies and non-veggies.

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The Lake City of Old Chapels and Bridges (Part--I)

Lucerne City, Central Switzerland

Lakeside Promenade

Chapel Bridge (Kapell Brucke)

 

Paintings under the ceiling

    In the afternoon after having our lunch we traveled towards Lucerne, the gateway to Central Switzerland. Throughout the way we saw the typical Swiss landscape with vast green pastures, farm cottages, lakes, grazing cattle, hills and valleys with dense growth of fir and pine trees. Pure air, pure dairy products, pure water from mountain rills and hygienic climate are the God-given gifts to this land of peace and prosperity. The distance from Engelberg to Lucerne is nearly thirty kms and so it took forty-five minutes to reach Lucerne, the famous town of ancient churches and many museums, dominated by the lake side view of historic buildings and churches. Lucerne lies at the northeen end of the Lake Lucerne, where the river Reuss flows out of the lake.On the Lake Promenade many souvenir shops, watch shops and confectionery shops attract many tourists. Ferry trips on the lake provide a panoramic view of  the surrounding monuments, Alpine hills of Pilatus and Rigi and the Chapel Bridge.

  Soon after we got down, we took a leisurely stroll along the banks of the lake Lucerne and walked across the Chapel Bridge, a roofed medieval wooden bridge with paintings on both sides of the ceiling. This is one of the oldest wooden bridges in Europe built in 1333, as part of Lucern's fortifications. It linked the old town on the right side of the Reuss river to the new town  was on the left. When it was built it was 204 meters in length, but now it is 170 meters due to , modifications made in later times. The famous 17th century Catholic painter Hans Heinrich Wagmann painted the events from Lucerne history and the lives of the town's patron saints, St.Leodegar and St. Maurice on 110 panels. In 1993 eighty-five of these 110 paintings were destroyed in fire accident. They have been replaced by paintings taken from the second part of the bridge which was dismantled in 1834 to make room for the Lakeside Avenue. Just beside the bridge there is an octagonal tower called "Wasserturm", a fortification from 13th century. The bridge led the way directly to St.Peter's chapel on northern side. This is an eighteenth century church that was built over a twelfth century chapel. St.Peter's chapel (St.Peter's kapelle) lends its name to the wooden bridge as Chapel Bridge (Kapell Bruke). The Chapel Bridge and the Water Tower were once the ramparts of the medieval town of Lucerne. Later the water tower was used as a dungeon, an archive and as a treasury till 19th century. At present it is used as a club by a traditional  association and is not open to public.

St.Peter's Chapel (St.Peter's Kapelle)

Ferry ride on Lucerne Lake

Spreur Bridge

Paintings on Dance of Death

 There is another ancient wooden bridge called Spreur Bridge located at the lower end of the medieval town of Lucerne. It is also a part of the medieval town's fortifications. It was erected in 1408. It was destroyed by storm in 1566 and was re-built in 1568. On the ceiling of this bridge also there are 67 paintings drawn during the period between 1627 and 1635 representing the dance of death. These paintings are quite realistic representing the costumes and style of medieval times. This bridge connected the mills  with bakers' quarters on the left bank of Reuss. The mills on the right bank were destroyed by fire in 1865.

St.Leodegar's  Church

Interior View of St. Leodegar's Church

 Another important monument in Lucerne is "Hofkirche" or church of St.Leodegar with twin towers, built during the period between 1633-1639. On this site previously there was a monastery built in eighth century. Later in twelfth century this church was constructed. Due to fire accident most parts of the church were destroyed except the front two towers. In 1633 another fire accident happened. The present church was built in late Renaissance style. In the church we can still see the previous Death of Virgin altar belonging to 15th century and the original wooden pews that survived the fire accident.

 As the time given for seeing the town was barely two hours, we were not able to see Hofkirche, the church founded in memory of St.Leodegar, the patron saint of this city. If you are a votary of knowledge, there are many museums like Swiss Museum of Transport, Culture and Convention Center and Nature Museum to reveal many interesting facts.

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       5th February, 2016                                                                     Somaseshu Gutala                    

THE LION OF VEDANTA

Sri Rama Krishna Parama Hamsa (1836-1886)

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

 When the British bragged about their empire as that on which the sun will never set, on the Indian firmament shone great stars which dazzled millions of eyes and made the British feel about their conquests too insignificant before these amazing world personalities. The conquered Indians conquered the entire world when Swami Vivekananda in his mellifluous tone addressed the Parliament of Religions at Chicago on  Sep.11, 1893.

The unique contribution of Vivekananda lies in interpreting philosophy as a practical way of life. He is the modern saint who recognized that the uplift of whole mankind is more important than personal salvation. He played the role of a humanist and enabled Indians to realize the greatness of  their heritage. He added a universal dimension by re-defining Hinduism as a way of life rather than a religion. He infused hope and courage in the hearts of youth by his inspiring speeches and showed by example that service to man is superior to service to God. As many people say, he served as a link between the East and the West. As a man of practical wisdom, he realized that it is useless to preach religion to hungry people. So he devoted his life for the uplift of the poor and established Rama Krishna Mission Centers for rendering  social service. His mastery of English and his scientific way of interpretation together with the message of universal love made him the right person to expound the greatness of Indian Yoga and Atma Vidya (Spiritual knowledge) to the West. Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa chose him as his successor knowing his capabilities and unswerving dedication to serve humanity. As such let us recall a few events of exemplary life to get ourselves inspired and be ready to follow his teachings at least to some extent.

 Swami Vivekananda was born on the 12th of January in 1863. His mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi was a pious lady and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. his father Viswanath Dutt was an eminent lawyer and was well-versed in Sanskrit, Persian, Bengali and English. Vivekanand's actual name is Narendranath Dutt. From boyhood he was active, precocious and playful. teachers were wonder-struck by his keen intellect and knowledge. After graduating with distinction he joined the course of law, but had to discontinue his studies due to the sudden death of his father. As a student Narendra took keen interest in music and sports. According to him "The world is a gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong." He was of the opinion that half of the misery in the world was due to physical disability. The quest to know God led him to see Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa who recognized in Narendra the proper man to understand and propogate the true spirit of India.

 After the demise of Sri Ramakrishana Paramahamsa in 1886, Vivekanada had to shoulder the responsibility of running the Ashram.  In fond memory of his Guru Vivekananda set up Rama Krishna Mutt at Belur in 1899. Rama Krishna Mission was set up in 1897 to serve society in various fields like health, tribal welfare, rural development, youth training camps, education and disaster-management. At present there are more than 170 branches in and outside India.

Belur Mutt

To understand India and meet the people face to face, he travelled throughout India. At Kanyakumari he had a prophetic vision about the glory of India and his duty to re-awaken the dormant spirit of   his motherland. In 1893 he went to America to attend the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He held the audience spellbound by his majestic personality, wide knowledge and his message of universal love. He travelled through Europe and wherever he went, people could not resist applauding his message of love. As he said he set out for Europe not merely to preach Hinduism but to make man a better man.

In his view all religions are different ways to reach the same ultimate truth.  "Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true. "Desire, ignorance and inequality are the trinity of bondage." "Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards is evil." Weakness and selfishness obstruct our progress. "Strength is life. Weakness is death; expansion is life; contraction is death; love is life; hatred is death." "The greatest sin is to think yourself weak."  "We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate." "All power is within you..... Stand up and express the divinity within you.""Arise,awake, stop not till the goal is reached."


 Swami Vivekananda enthralled the audience by his simple, clear and inspiring speeches and his books on various philosophical topics. His style is expository marked with simplicity, clarity and rhythm with appropriate similes and analogies. His books touch our hearts and infuse in us a sense of hope, zeal and clear understanding. His books on "Raja Yoga", "JnanaYoga", "KarmaYoga and Bhakti Yoga", "Lectures from Colombo to Almora", "Letters of Swami Vivekanada",  "Inspired talks by Swami Vivekananda"are worth  reading to get a clear idea about Advaita Philosophy and the principles of Sanatana Dharma. 'The complete Works of Swami Vivekananda " was published in nine volumes by Advaith Ashram. As a poet and visionary he wrote nearly thirty poems in Bengali and English. As a forerunner to Tagore's poetry we find in his poems blending of Indian philosophy and universal love. Romain Rolland (1866-1944), the French biographer of Swami Vivekananda, says "His words are great music---- I cannot touch these sayings without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock." Sri K.V.Surynarayana Murty in his essay "The Poetry of Vivekananda" says " His poetry is a splendid blend of immense poetic sensibility and spiritual profundity, intellectual brilliance and indefatigable energy, unselfconscious universal love and the authentic voice of a prophet. Poems like " The Song of the Sanyasin", "A Hymn to Rama Krishna", "A Hymn to Divine Mother", "Quest for God", "Kali" etc are some of the poems which capture your attention by the sheer beauty of their language and noble feelings and thoughts. Of course he is not so emotional and romantic like Tagore or abstruse and obscure like Aurobindo. His style is straightforward and inspiring with lucid presentation of his spiritual thoughts and feelings.

 After his return to India Swami Vivekananda worked whole-heartedly for betterment of the poor and downtrodden. At the tender age of thirty-nine, the Master who saw Brahman in every creature, became merged with Brahman. To the present youth of India the life of Swami Vivekananda is a brilliant example to understand and put in to practice the true spirit of service and love with a sense of universal brotherhood. Thus only we can honor the great philosopher-saint, in whom Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa saw "the direct manifestation of Shiva." Let me conclude with the unforgettable and noble words of Swami Vivekananda spoken in Chicago.

  " I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration,  but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations on the earth."

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12th January, 2016                                                   Somaseshu Gutala

THE CITY IN DELUGE

Congested city 

Slum Area

 

 











                         1)     The city gained much fame for her glorious past
                                  The city for her monumental grandeur vast
                                  For her clear lakes, green parks and coastal strand
                                  Affluent with huge malls and restaurants grand
                                  The city proud of her many firms and commerce abroad
                                  Like lifeless machines men rushed and struggled hard.
                                                                .

                        2)      Spurred by development the city grew by leaps and bounds
                                 Ambition devoured every inch of ground              
                                 Sparing no lake or park wherever found
                                 Even temples lost their hereditary ground
                                 The lanes grew wild like poisonous weeds
                                 Uncontrollable like human greed.
 

Industrial Pollution

Dried up River

                       3)         The lakes displaced by residential flats
                                   The fields converted to commercial plots
                                   The dense green trees in thousands lost
                                   To build highways at fabulous cost
                                   Deprived of vast surrounding space
                                   Old monuments seen in their declining days.

                       4)        The city untamed like a forest spread
                                   Flouting all rules with no sense of dread
                                   With slums and gutters in spaces between
                                   The city lost her natural splendor and sheen
                                   Pledging her purity for material wealth
                                   Gripped in fangs of pollution, a gradual death.

Flooded Streets No.2

Flooded Streets No.1

   



                   



                                                                                           

Saviors of flood victims

Congrats ! Volunteers !

         

                  
     



               

                    5)           Caught in the continuous stormy blast
                                   The city shook like a ship in tempest caught
                                   For days and days floods rose like raging hell
                                   Neck-deep in waters houses fell
                                   The lakes leapt out of their constricted bounds
                                    Highways became lakes with no trace of ground.

                       6)         With all their household washed away
                                    People spent days with dreadful dismay
                                    Surrounded by water, yet not fit to drink
                                    Sans food and clothes, too dazed to think
                                    The city wore a deserted, dreary sight
                                    The authorities stood helpless, a pitiful plight.

                      7)           All shops shuttered, banks closed and power cut
                                    No means of transport and no one to protect
                                    Even rich folk levelled down to common lot
                                    Amidst a deluge of waters caught
                                    Looked up to the sky with hungry eyes
                                   To grab food packets air-dropped from skies.

                      8)          The law of jungle prevailed around and everywhere
                                   The thieves looted and none to care
                                   The selfish traders hiked prices sky-high
                                   Beyond the reach of poor and no supply
                                   Is this the goal of thriving cities great ?
                                   Built without vision and planning, a sordid state !
                                                                                                                                 
                       9)       Dirt covered city with tons of slush
                                 All things despoiled by stormy gush
                                 Who can compensate their losses huge ?
                                 A shocking disaster left by this deluge
                                 Yet charity came to rescue with humane touch
                                 Wiped tears and helped the sufferers much.

Green gardens and lakes

Blue hills and rivers

 
           






                    10)        Let us give space to resources of Nature
                                 On them depends our existence and future
                                 Let us fill our cities with trees and gardens green
                                 Let us save water and our lakes serene
                                 Let us curb pollution from every side
                                 Our future life only we have to decide.

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   Note :  This poem ends on a note of warning to our prospering cities which overlook deliberately the dire consequences of  overindustrialization, overurbanization, and over-consumption of natural resources. This indiscriminate use and wastage of natural resources usher in a very dreadful state of human life in future where people have to die like dinosaurs due to lack or shortage of basic things like pure water, pure air and unadulterated food. Pollution and over-consumption are the twin evils of modern life. In the name of luxurious life we are pledging precious Nature to our selfish and short-sighted goals. A day will not be far off when Nature will boomerang on our disorderly ways and make us suffer for what we have done in a thoughtless and undisciplined manner. So let us at least curb our evil tendencies and contribute our mite to control pollution and develop proper risk and disaster- management strategies to face the perils in future. We should leave ample space for trees, lakes,parks,and historical monuments and temples to exist without being polluted. We should maintain proper roads and drainage system. We should reduce use of artificial products and chemicals.  Simple life in harmony with Nature is the only suitable solution for our modern city life.

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  4th January, 2016                                                                                Somaseshu Gutala