During the first week of September we proceeded to iCED, Jaipur for our introductory training on Environment Audit. Having heard a lot about the iCED campus, we were all pretty excited to visit the place. The charm of Rajasthan to many of us, who had not been to the desert state beforehand, added to the excitement.
We proceeded to iCED after our IIM-Ahmedabad attachment, and were already pretty charged up after the excellent training that we received there. We boarded our flight from Ahmedabad on 2nd September and were taken to the iCED campus, which is around 40 kilometers from Jaipur City.
Visiting the Waterman of India
Even though the immediate next day of our arrival was a Sunday, we were in for a pretty hectic schedule. We were scheduled to visit the office of Tarun Bharat Sangh, an NGO that works primarily in the Alwar District of Rajasthan in the area of water/river conservation. We were to start from the institute at 6 in the morning and many of us were not very happy that we were put to such a hectic schedule after an already stretched out day. However, most of our apprehensions would soon melt away once we reached the office of Tarun Bharat Sangh.
( The message written at the front gate of Tarun Bharat Sangh)
Situated in the Gopalpura Village in Rajasthan, Tarun Bharath Sangh is headed by Dr. Rajendra Singh, who has worked for a long time in the area of River and Water conservation in India. To his credit lies the rejuvenation of five rivers that flow through the arid desert state and this was achieved by making use of the traditional watershed management technology- Johad. We were not expecting to meet Dr. Singh on this particular day, but once we got to know that Dr.Singh himself would be receiving us, most of us turned into starry eyed, curious kids.
(With the Waterman of India- Dr. Rajendra Singh)
Dr. Singh explained to us the engineering that lay behind the watershed technology, how Johad has helped transformed the fate and fortune of hundreds of farmers across the Alwar region and neigbouring districts and also what can be done to scale the model to the entire country. He came across as a very humble and approachable person with a saintly aura. We were taken to the Johads that were constructed by TBS and thereafter had a first hand exposure on the construction and operation of these traditional checkdams.
(An Arid region has been converted into something that can support crops and with greenery surrounding it all around)
iCED
iCED campus, I felt, is one of the best campus that belongs to IA&AS. Designed in an environment and eco-friendly manner, without compromising on any of the modern design principles, it is indeed an apt place to house the Departments Environment Audit Training centre. From small things like the use of glasses for water instead of plastic bottles to the use of solar energy to power a substantial part of the institute, everything about iCED oozed eco-friendliness.
The inauguration was done by Dr. Rajendra Singh, who started off from where he had stopped the day before, and following this we had sessions on Legal Frameworks, Environment Impact Assessment, Waste Management etc. all of which enhanced our understanding about various facets of environment management and conservation. The importance of environment audit in the governance of our country was impressed upon us by this whole exercise.
Fun at iCED
The most fun we had at iCED was with the evening cooling off at the swimming pool. Having been unfortunate at iCISA, what with their swimming pool being under maintenance, we were pretty excited to put our swimming skills to test. Most of us would simply cool off for hours on end after the classes. The other facilities at the institute were also impressive.
In addition to this, iCED had arranged for outings for us on almost all the days. We were taken to Chokidhani, Jaipur to enjoy a sumptuous Rajasthani Thali, Amber fort to enjoy the light and sound show and also hosted at the AG Colony by our seniors.
(with my colleagues at Chokidhani, Jaipur)
All of us felt immense pride at how cordially our seniors welcomed and treated us at the dinner hosted for us at the AG colony. We were treated as members of a single family and the camaraderie and professionalism that was on display impressed upon us the tight knit nature of IA&AS.
Desert National Park and Sum Dunes
The iCED attachment, even though sweet, lasted only 4 days. We proceeded for a study tour to Desert National Park, Jaisalmer followed by a nights stay at Sum Dunes, Jaisalmer. Even though many of us braved the desert heat and walked till the end, we were not lucky enough to spot the much famed Great Indian Bustard. The lack of a jeep safari to the internal parts of the park did us in. However, it was a great experience to walk through the plain, harsh terrain.
Following this we went back to our camp at Sum Dunes. We were taken on a camel safari through the dunes. My roommate and I hopped on to a camel named Sonia, who I suppose is a beauty by camel standards. She patiently bore my weight (which for reference is a number above 100kg) and did not seem to mind us shouting atop her. Our usher, named Isak, also offered to race her through the dunes for us. We also saw some desert nomads who sung and danced for us.
There were cultural activities arranged at night. We were treated with fantastic dance/song performances. The quiet of the desert made the desert tunes much more impressive and soul rendering. Rajasthan would leave us permanently impressed by her culture after this night.
Visit to the Border
The next day, we were taken to the BSF office at Jaisalmer, where we were briefed about the Border Security Force and its role in securing our nation’s borders during peace time. We came to appreciate the immense sacrifice that these jawans make to make sure that their countrymen sleep in peace.
( At the BSF Sector Headquarters, Jaisalmer)
After the debriefing we were taken to the Laungewala post, which was the theatre of war during the famous Battle of Longewala, where a handful of Indian Soldiers held off a sea of Pakistani army and protected the borders of our country during the 1971 war. We also visitied the BSF border check post at Bawliyanwala and were briefed on how the BSF mans the border post and makes sure that there is no infiltration of the borders. The sight of Pakistan which lay a few metres from me across barbed wires is something that I will never forget in my life. The bravery and commitment of the BSF Jawans who man these posts even in the most inhospitable of conditions is something that needs to be known to every citizen of our country.
(The capstone at Laungewala)
The one week attachment at iCED and Rajasthan was one of the most memorable in our entire training schedule. It was informative, highly enjoyable and cleared many misconceptions that all of us held about many things. Rajasthan, which calls to ones mind the image of an arid, dry state would never be the same in my mind after this trip. Its immense variety and diversity in terrain and in culture once more underlined to me how diverse our country is.
When we were about to return to Shimla, there was only one thing that our entire batch wanted. Another chance to return to this wonderful institute and place.