A Trip to Arki - crossing Chhoti Vilayat

(Part-1)

In the year 2016, amidst of August month, I was busy arranging my solo trip to the Arki area for wood sample collection. I assembled research gadgets so-called instruments like moisture meter, GPS, measuring tape, wood borer, chisel, hammer, etc from my concerned academic department. I also got an official node in the form of paper. That paper authorized me that I can extract wood samples from the standing live tree for research purpose. It was necessary because I was going to deal with the ‘Toon’ tree (Toona ciliata). “Toon is one of the valuable and good quality timbers, highly used in lower areas of Himachal. This Red Cedar tree of Mahogany family has been ingrained with strong heart-wood; it attracts woodworkers for its use”. As in Himachal, ‘Green felling ban’ was known to impose during 1996. Strictly, no disturbance to live tree for vulturous developmental activity was announced by the state government. This step was pivotal to Himachal Pradesh for forest sustainability. But this year 2019, in February, this law has been reconditioned by allowing green felling in some particular areas and on some particular species. Check here;https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-green-felling-himachal-green-cover-5074665/

Nevertheless, I was on a research expedition. And moreover, to avoid objection regarding the collection, I’d to keep official paper (Certificate) with me. This proved that live sample collection is definitely for research purpose and extraction procedure will not interfere with tree life; or no any kind of harm to Toon.

After preparing all certificates, I entered HOD’s office for signature as consent. There was a group of four Ph.D. scholars sitting around the Head Sir’s table and were discussing a medicinal plant, named ‘Chanchla’. Among them, one was our Wood-Chemistry teacher. They were busy in discussing that Chanchla plant. I just heard that it is a medicinal plant and have no more details further. I really don’t know why biotechnology students were curious about this plant.

                       (If anybody knows about this plant, Please explore details in the comment section)

After completing all formalities, I ran from Forestry-college building toward the hostel. Tour journey was on my mind because it was going to be a solo tour. So I was planning it accordingly as the sequence was in my mind, but it did not go the way I was thinking. So, I called my junior and set the plans on the phone. My one research site coincides where she lived. And fortunately, she was at her place. 

Next morning, along with my instrumental bag, I was waiting for the bus at ‘Kranti chowk’ – it is a famous bus stop of Nauni Campus with a standing statue of Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar (First CM of HP) in a circular raised grassy podium. A Nauni campus bus came for solan with Sirmauri nati (Folk song) was on in high volume. The driver turned the bus with the rhythm of Nati and the conductor was whistling backside to align the bus with the road. I am sure that whistling was unnecessary in malodorous folk song.

The bus stopped for 10 minutes in front of NCC ground. Passengers boarded the bus, mostly were students and bus moved toward Solan. Finally, I reached the Solan bus stand. Solan is famous for mushroom, hence it is called - Mushroom City of India. It is also known as the Hub of education in Himachal, because students from different districts, states, countries came here for higher study. The city Solan lies between Chandigarh and Shimla. It is like the twin sister of Queen Hill ‘Shimla’ which is about 46 km south of it.

I came out of the bus for a search of Arki-bus. I asked a private bus conductor, who was busy in counting money with a whistle in his mouth. He replied in his local tone that “Hanji, Bus to janni yai, per jayegi ‘Chhoti Vilayat’ tak, usi raste se” (‘yes, this bus is going to that side with the same route, but up to Chhoti Vilayat’ only)…                 He didn’t say Kunihar.

I asked, ‘Kunihar Bus-stand?’ He replied with a suspicious look- Haanji, Nam ni lena bus.

He added to attract passenger (me), ‘There is no direct bus for Arki right now. Take this bus quickly; either you have to wait for 45 minutes’.

I listened to him quietly, sat near the window seat. It was 9 AM and my tummy was famishing hard, as I couldn’t get breakfast in the hostel.

I looked around and bought some butter cookies to sleep my hungry tummy.  After 20 min bus driver got on the bus and start worshiping the goddess photo-frames hanged left of bus steering. As he started the bus, it vibrates with a regular frequency. I lost my activeness as my hunger calmed down and then I snoozed with my bag in arms.

After 2 hours, the bus reached Kunihar, I was very curious about this place as I heard a lot about this place. ‘Kunihar is anonymously known as Chhoti Vilayat. The reason may be it was looked like a foreign land with aesthetic attention during the old time. There is a story with a myth regarding the name of Kunihar. This place is also known as 'Bukha Maulakh' (the place of hunger people). Where local people say that if anybody calls its name in the morning he/she will stay hungry and thirsty whole day’…… Ridiculous! (My expression)

I had called this place ‘Kunihar’ name in the morning to break this myth. That’s why; I decided that I will buy some eatable things in Kunihar bus stand. As it was a myth to me, so I made my mind up to disgrace the old proverb. But truly speaking, I could not get there to eat.    

And that ridiculous expression laughed at me.                                           (To be continued……)

There may be various interesting stories about, why the place name should not be called in the morning?

 Let me know in the comment box…