Kurukshetra This is just a quick start of this section, so far, based merely on my memories. Towards the latter part of his life Dadaji's biggest passion was the restoration and development of the town of Kurukshetra in Haryana. He had always been a deeply religious person, and influenced by the religious philosophy of Gandhiji. Kurukshetra was the site of the Mahabharata and the area contains a large number of monuments and sites from antiquity. The story goes that Dadaji during one of his car journeys in the hinterland, perhaps an electioneering or administrative trip, stopped at the sacred Bramhasarovar at Kurukshetra with the intention of taking a holy dip. However, there was no water there, the whole place was in poor condition, so Dadaji could merely smear some of the wet mud on himself. Thereafter, Dadaji dedicated himself to change the state of affairs. Dadaji’s contribution and Kurukshetra itself is a vast subject. I shall soon be providing references and scans from much material in my possession. I encourage people to visit and experience the atmosphere of this antique city and the museums there including the Gulzarilal Nanda Museum. At the behest and great encouragement and support of Mr. K.Arun, Chairman of the Gulzarilal Nanda Foundation, more than a decade ago in about 2007, I went on my first trip to Kurukshetra in 2008. There is a Gulzarilal Nanda Museum in Kurukshetra too, housed in a large, aesthetically well constructed building. My second trip, when I went with my wife Vrinda Mehta, was in December 2012. On these trips I was befriended and guided by Dr. Rajesh Chauhan, a senior journalist. Dr. Seeta Rathod, Head of the museum was also very gracious and helpful. There were many other people whom I met who helped and guided me, such as the head of the Krishna Museum. Since I am documenting this unfortunately or fortunately more than ten years after the trips, I am sorry I have forgotten their names but this information exists in my notes and shall be transferred here in due course. In the following pages (sublinks as follows), I have documented these trips mainly with the photos I took along with some descriptions. Descriptions provided by the museum can be read below some of the photos and exhibits, although not all of these have been described by either the museum or by me in this website (due to lack of information, and the tedium involved I am afraid. Those few people who might be interested further can contact me for family information). The photos of photos I took inside the museum have not been competently taken and suffer from reflection of outside light or flash on the glass frames. Apology or this. Kurukshetra trip 2008 Feb>>> Kurukshetra trip 2012 December>>> |