How do we define progress?

Mani Mahesh Temple, Chaurasi Mandir, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

My recent trip to Himachal Pradesh was indeed a soul refreshing experience. Living near the Sea, is one kind of an experience. And living on the mountains a totally different experience. Mumbai is a coastal city and I have lived here all my life. Mumbai as all know, is a densely populated city. The city is choking with traffic. Speed is the essence of life in this city. There are advantages too I must say. It is a very convenient city, most amenities are simply a stone's throw away from where I live. Shopping, Entertainment, Medical facilities and Banking services which are essential for city life. With more and more services reaching my door step, almost everything is just a phone call away. Grocery, food, medicine, laundry almost everything reaches my house without much effort and off-course at a price.

During one of our sight seeing expeditions in Himachal Pradesh, we happen to visit a place called Bharmour. It is a quaint little village up the mountains known for its Temple Complex called "Chaurasi Mandir" (84 Temple complex). 
 

Road to Bharmour from Chamba runs parallel to River Beas.

The road to Bharmour is very tricky and difficult. It is narrow, rough and there is just enough space for just one vehicle to pass at a time. In case a vehicle comes from the opposite side, the driver uses all his skills and backs untill he finds a little cove in the rocks to side the car. Flanked by high rocky mountains on one side and swiftly flowing River Beas on the other side, death is sometimes just 3-4 inches away from the Car. Smallest error on part of the driver can cause a serious accident. The road is mostly isolated except for an occasisonal house up the mountains. Very few and far.

Sitting in an Air Conditioned imported Car, driven by a highly skilled and trained driver, as a city person not used to the mountain roads, we feared the road.

After a drive of about 5 hours from Chamba city, we reached Bharmour at about 4.00 pm. It is a small town, high up the mountains at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet. Life at the Chaurasi Temple Complex went about as usual, unmoved and unaffected by the altitude or long distance from any of the so called city. There is a local school in the Temple complex and small children were doing PT in an open air class. In the back drop of Himalayas, their teacher sat on a wooden table busy reading a newspaper!

Objects of my envy...simple villagers at the Mani Mahesh Temple

One of the sights which caught my attention and stayed in my mind was a group of 5-6 middle aged/old men. they were sitting in a small circle, casually talking to each other.

Those men were local villagers, apparently passing time since there wasn't much to do around. It was a rainy day and the weather was pleasant. High mountains surrounding the village were partially covered with dense clouds reducing visibility. Everything around was covered in the monsoon greenery....there was a pleasant cool breeze....

At that moment I envied those men more than anyone else.....such serene life....fresh air and ample greenery....high up the Himalaya's.....they sat....busy in their own small talk....discussing the outside world.....

Made me reflect back at city life, my own life and that of my near and dear one's and millions of people living in these cement and concrete jungles...is this progress....the filth and the crowd.....diseases and pollution....work pressure and materialism....no time for peace and quite..tranquility...spirituality....Is this what the modern man calls progress?

Dhauladhar Range.

They say a trip to Himalayas' is a spiritual journey. I agree with this thought. Himalayas is a humbling experience. It is as much a journey within yourslef as much a trip to the divine mountains.

Life back in the city feels dull and wasted. Envy those villagers living up the Himalayas....agreed life for them is tough and very harsh...and yet they are very fortunate...to be living so close to nature....nature is a part of their life.....lucky lucky people...untouched by progress...makes me think once again...what is progress? and what have we gained as a result of this progress?