Chief Minister and Eco-Tourism

29 January 2011

The Chief Minister of Bihar (CM), Nitish Kumar, visited Rajgir yesterday and gave a speech about eco-tourism in the area.  With the intention of hoping to hear the CM's speech, I tagged along with the film crew who were slated to have an interview with him.

We arrived at Rajgir an hour before the CM was to arrive and had to leave our vehicles at the base of Gridhkuta. Then we started our 5.5 km walk to the Ghorakatora Dam. It was a beautiful walk down a valley road between lush covered countryside. Our views of the surrounding peaks were wonderful and I couldn't help but think that the Buddha also walked through this countryside. With about 2 km left, a policeman stopped his vehicle and picked us up.



I had been running to catch up with the crew, so I was a little out of breath!

At the dam site, many people were already present. Some sitting on chairs and some sitting on the grass. Girls from one of the local schools were there, also, to greet the CM and they were lined up along the road. Some of the crew did interviews with tourism personnel. I just took shots of the area and people with my point-and-shoot camera. I also was asked to take many pictures with people. 

Ole shooting the video and Armardeep interviewing

Ole

William, the new crewman, and Noah

About two hours after the start time, the CM arrived on a beautifully decorated tonga (a horse drawn cart) with many tongas following him. The press immediately surrounded him with their cameras and microphones. Then the girls sang to him. Next, he had tea and the crew and I also had tea, fruit, and butter biscuits.

CM's (in gray hat) arrival

 

This area is being developed for tourism, so the tourist attractions were then shown to the CM. He went for a paddle boat ride, ducks and turtles were released into the lake, and an suv pulled a man hooked to a parachute who finally left the ground after the third try. The CM then sat in front of the crowds and many speeches were made in Hindi.

During this time, the young girls came and spoke to me in English. They asked me about the film, my "job" with the crew, and then many questions about America and education. Two girls presented me with roses and one of the tourist men gave me a bouquet of flowers that had been sitting out for the CM's arrival. I thanked him for the flowers and then asked the girls if they were for me or for the CM. That started a whole other ball rolling.

During the CM's speech someone told someone that I wanted to give the CM flowers. I asked the girls if they'd also give the CM flowers and they said, "Yes." They wanted to go immediately, but he was still giving his speech. While we were waiting, several of the young girls wanted me to write down the title of the film and my autograph! Finally one girl said the CM was about to leave, so I pushed my way toward the crowd surrounding him. Guards and men parted the crowd for me and I was immediately in front of the CM. In about 2 seconds, I handed him the flowers, quickly mentioned that I had been following all the good things he had been doing for Bihar, especially for the women of Bihar, and then he thanked me and the crowd formed once again around him.

Armardeep went to get a car for us, and while we waited Noah became surrounded by the local people and Ole took pictures. After awhile, William and I started walking to meet up with Armardeep. We ended up walking with a group of policeman who asked us all sorts of questions. When the question about whether or not I was married came up, I accidentally told the truth which set off lots more questions. They also asked William if he was married and he said, "No," which prompted the question of "Why?" William turned the question back to the policeman and asked him why he was married! At that point, I had started to lag behind so I didn't here the policeman's reply.

Noah chatting among a crowd of men

The dam site that we were at is simply beautiful. It was amazing to think that here I was among this fairly untouched land at the birth of a possible tourism explosion. The Indians are trying to keep it "green," of which I am very thankful.  Only bicycles and tongas will be allowed on the road - no vehicles, kind of like the Denali National Park's ban of individual vehicles past a certain point. It will be a nice place to visit for some clean air and hiking!