DR.PRAKASH AMTE WITH WIFE AND SON.

TRIBAL ART AT HEMALKASA

HEMALKASA IS 4 KMS FROM BHAMBRAGAD.........
IT IS A HEALTH CENTRE SET UP AND RUN BY DR.PRAKASH AMTE.
IT CATERS TO THE TRIBALS OF ADJACENT PARTS OF MAHARASHTRA, CHATTISGARH AND ANDHRA PRADESH.
BASIC DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT FACILITIES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED INCLUDING OPERATION THEATRES.
THE ENTIRE SETUP AND THE FUNCTIONING WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE...IT WAS LIKE AN OASIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT FOR THE TRIBALS.......

BHAMBRAGAD , GADCHIROLI

THE CAPTAIN TAKING STOCK OF THE SITUATION.............
THE FLOPPY HAT, DARK WRAPAROUND GOGGLES AND FULL SLEEVE SHIRT ARE FOR PROTECTION FROM THE SCHORCHING SUN............THE SUN IS MERCILESS HERE AND WILL BURN ANY SKIN EXPOSED TO IT.........

BHAMBRAGAD , GADCHIROLI

THE RIDE WAS PLEASANT AND SURPRISINGLY THE SMALL VESSEL WAS VERY STABLE......ANNA WAS BALANCING THE BOAT WELL......THE BREEZE WAS COOLFOR A CHANGE...( CONSIDERING THAT THE TEMPEARTURE WAS 47 DEGREES.....).........

BHAMBRAGAD , GADCHIROLI

ANOTHER IMPOSTER...HE IS NOT EVEN ATTEMPTING TO PRETEND......LOOK AT THAT SMUG EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE.......AND BY GOD LOOK AT HIS OAR......A HALF SLICED BAMBOO STICK.......WONDER WHERE HE GOT THAT FROM.........

BHAMBRAGAD , GADCHIROLI

POOR ATTEMPT AT PRETENDING TO ROW...............

BHAMBRAGAD , GADCHIROLI

THE FEARLESS MARINER.......SAILOR OF THE SEVEN SEAS.............

BHAMBRAGAD , GADCHIROLI

AMATUER ROWING ATTEMPTS.........
THE RIVER WAS DEEP...AT LEAST 25 FT AT THE CENTRE......AND THE BOAT WAS VERY BASIC......IT WAS A TREE TRUNK WHICH WAS EXCAVATED FORMING A HOLLOW......THE MAXIMUM DEPTH OF THE BOAT WAS 6-8 INCHES.......SO YOU COULD SEE THE WATER NEARLY AT THE BRIM ....IT WAS SCARY AND EXHILIARATING AT THE SAME TIME...AND ANNA HANDELED THE CRAFT WITH THE FINESSE OF A FIGHTER PILOT.........

BHAMBRAGAD , GADCHIROLI

INITIALLY ALL SIX OF US JUMPED IN AND THE DUGOUT WAS GOING TO CAPSIZE ........SO THEN WE DECIDED TO GO IN TURN BY TURN...THREE AT A TIME......ANNA LOOKS DAMN AMUSED AT OUR ANTICS.........

BHAMBRAGAD , GADCHIROLI

THIS DUGOUT IS THE SOLE MEANS OF TRANSPORT FOR TRAVERSING THIS RIVER.......IN A WAY IT IS AN INTERSTATE FERRY MANND BY THIS GUY FROM ANDHRA.......AND HE WAS DOING BRISK BUSINESS........WE WANTED A RIDE IN HIS BOAT AND HE READILY AGREED BUT THERE WAS A GROSS COMMUNICATION PROBLEM........HE DIDNOT UNDERSTAND HINDI AND WE DIDNOT UNDERSTAND HIM........

BHAMBRAGAD, GADCHIROLI

THIS IS THE SOUTHEASTERN TIP OF MAHARASHTRA.
THIS RIVER FORMS THE BORDER BETWEEN MAHARASHTRA AND CHATTISGARH ( BASTAR).ANDHRA PRADESH IS ALSO NEARBY..........
THIS PLACE IS THE HOTBED OF NAXALITE MOVEMENT IN MAHARASHTRA. THE POLICE STATION WAS HEAVILY FORTIFIED AND HEAVILY ARMED POLICE PATROLS COLUD BE SEEN ON THE JUNGLE ROADS.INSPITE OF THIS ROUTINE LIFE PROCEEDED AS USUAL AND PEOPLE WENT ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING IN A NEAR NORMAL WAY. THE ROAD TO BHAMBRAGAD PASSES THROUGH A DENSE FOREST .IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO TRAVEL ON THIS ROAD AFTER SUNDOWN BOTH DUE TO THE NAXALITE MENACE AND DUE TO THE REMOTENESS AND WILDERNESS...........IN CASE OF A BREAKDOWN THE NEAREST HELP MAY BE AT LEAST 30-40 KMS AWAY THAT TO IN A DENSE JUNGLE AT NIGHT WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS AND WITH THE NAXAL THREAT.........
I CAME ACROSS A VERY CURIOUS PHENOMENON HERE ........BANGLADESHI IMMIGRANTS........THERE ARE LOADS OF BANGLADESHI IMMIGRANTS HERE.....AND ALSO IN CHANDRAPUR..........

AT VADA

THIS IS THE CONFLUENCE OF TWO RIVERS........A PLACE FOR PERFORMING LAST RITES .......WAS VERY PICTURESQUE NEVER THE LESS.....

ANUPS MOM.......

CHILLING OUT AFTER A A HOT DAY................NOTE THE WATER ON THE VERANDA THESE EVENINGSESS

IONS WERE THE OMST PLEASANT PART OF THE DAY.......

WITH ANUP , HIS DAD AND SUMEDH.