Indian youth delegation to China

Indian youth delegation to China

Hi friends,

(Especially the fellow delegates that visited China)

Here is an effort to re-create day-by-day account of our memorable journey. Please feel free to add.

The Journey Begins

The day I left for Delhi – to be a part of the delegation of Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of India – I did not have even an iota idea of the places delegation will visit in China or even what to expect.

Like me, there were more than eighty youngsters, all masters in their fields who have converged at the International Guest House of PUSA, Delhi for two-days orientation programme.

I remember many of the murmuring each other – “Yaar hamein jaana kahan hai China mein”. Those two days were like two decades. If there was something enjoyable, then it was the company of strangers, who have descended to be a part of the delegation.

The most striking sight was to see all my North East friends praying – with hands folded and lips murmuring – right before meals.

Breakfast, lunch or dinner – all of them prayed before taking the first morsel, while atheist like me (and many others) chomped food lost in talking.

The delegation was truly a bunch of surprises and represented every state, every corner of the country. In fact, it was here I truly realized – UNITY IN DIVERSITY.

An interesting part of the two days orientation programme remained the group assigning and room partners’ introduction. Few of us would have envisioned how attached (or detached - as in some cases) we would become to our roommates.

Then we had our youth managers Saran Sir, Randhawa Sir and Madam Ira Prabhat – all loving. Folks do you remember the clapping we practiced (but later used in our buses or groups only)?

It went

123, 123, 1..2..3

123, 123, 1..2..3

123, 123, 1..2..3

And all thanks to Mrinal Bhaiya for preparing us with his valuable – China mein kya hoga stuff. Now I feel that Mrinal’s lecture was the only one that we thoroughly enjoyed. I wish ministry offers more such insights to future delegates (if any) so that they are not as blank as me (or perhaps others also).

On buses, which were strikingly similar to State Roadways Transport Corporation (aka apni PRTC buses), we were taken to Chinese Embassy and later to the IGI Airport. But when we boarded same buses on June 27, we realized that our Chinese friends have spoilt us with the luxury of AC buses.

The food served at the Chinese Embassy in Delhi was trailer to what we were going to have in China. Trailer? Yeah. Chinese food is a feast for Indian non-vegetarians and difficult on vegetarians.

A word about cameras:

It was during this visit I realized that how technology has made all of us ace-photographers (literally). There were some of us who made videos of all events – even the mundane ones such as presentation at Chinese embassy. I believe all of us carried back full hard disks and lot of digital datas, besides loads of loving memories.

From pillars and greenery at the International guesthouse to its front façade – all the non-living items were given VIP shutterbug treatment. I guess all of us have pictures of posing in front of guesthouse building.

Taking off from Delhi:

For people like me, and many others, it was first experience to fly, while for some it was first experience to be on an international flight.

More than three hours went by checking in, exchanging currency, having snacks (at exorbitant rates) at the airport and doing the most important thing – gossiping. I remember, we were not given any breakfast on June 17 and it was snacks at airport that kept us alive.

While all the hungry stomachs were overjoyed at the sight of food served at the Air India flight, the amount served left everyone distraught.

All the hungry demons waited for second serving at the flight, which, of course, never came. Food at AI flight remained topic of discussion till we landed in Shanghai.

Once in the flight (economy class), all of us started – garmi hai. AC kab on hoga and the ultimate was – jab jahaaz chalega hum sheesha kholenge, hawa aane ke liye.

And does anyone remember the roar we gave when plane took off? It was something unforgettable. So many people having the same feeling of exhilaration at same time (while the plane took off). Rest of the six hours were spent trying to peer down the plane and spot houses, rivers, wide expanse etc and capturing the same in cameras.

For the nth time, many of us watched the Bollywood flick – Kambakht Ishq. I guess air-hostesses might have a difficult time dealing with curious delegates’ (yeh seat wala button dabane par kya hoti hai?) attitude.

To be continued..