There are two ‘Indias’ within the country - an observation that has been made often to highlight the dichotomy between the rich and poor. While we want the world to view us as emerging superpower, it is ironic that millions living live in stark poverty. On one hand we have tones of food being wasted due to lack of storage facilities and on the other there are millions who cannot afford one meal a day. The different topics on the theme ‘Food’ in the May issue of One India One People bring out this contrast. The issue also brings into focus the growing demand for convenience food and subsequent growth of the food industry in India. There are also topics that show the way to good health. In sum, there is plenty of food for thought.   

A far off affair

While today, you can choose to land in the heart of this dustbowl at the Leh Airport, or at any other place along this ancient highway, just from Srinagar to Leh would be a 16-day journey over a dirt path till as late as 1960’s when the Indian army engineers carved a road up to Zoji-la to maintain supply lines. This army road has today developed into the Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH1D) and is one of the two arterial routes connecting this remote district to the rest of India. The road then further extends to Manali and is known as the Leh-Manali Highway (part of NH21). It is roughly 900 kms from Srinagar to Manali, (approx. 425 + 475). Journey to Ladakh through either one of these routes will take two days. A third motorable road from Leh does exist, which connects Leh to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet but is in disuse as China does not allow Indians to use this all-weather road to go to Mansarovar.

Ladak

Quirky, feisty, impish, feral and ridiculously photogenic. Savage roads etched across a lunar emptiness; a soulless desert where rocks bleed colour. Brittle stone walls which in its lazy folds hide unending valleys; brilliant blue skies capering beyond the grasp of earth’s snow-clad fingers. Akul Tripathi rides to this place across the mountains – Ladakh and agrees that it is worth every gasp!

The road to Ladakh, and even spirituality for that matter, is not an easy one. It is dotted with high, treacherous mountain passes. This is from where the name Ladakh springs. Literally meaning the ‘land of many high passes’ (la = mountain pass), the Ladakhis have a saying which only one having experienced a journey into this naked wilderness can truly grasp. "The land is so barren and the passes so high, that only the best of friends and fiercest of enemies come by."

To appreciate the altitude of the place and the fearsome heights it sits at, let’s understand how high is Leh – 3,522m/11,750 ft. For someone reading this in Mumbai, New York or Sydney, try this. Sit in your car and drive in a straight line for three and a half kilometres. Now turn back, and see the point from where you started (if you can see it at all). Look up and imagine that distance above you. That’s how high Leh is, and with 22 metres to spare.