A trek to Gaumukh
At an altitude of 13,500 ft: by Indira Sharma, GM—Marketing


Indira Sharma (third form right) with
the trekking team at the origin of the Ganga

I was part of an all woman trekking team of 10, lead by Mrs Dakshayini Vikram-the first woman to cross the Kalindikal Pass in the Gangotri glaciers.

For me it was a challenge to embark on such a trip as I was not a professional trekker. There was this 'can I make it?' feeling, which lurked till the train started for Delhi on 9 April 2004. But the feeling on my return journey was sublime and this is what I can say after.

Drawing parallels to our professions:
It is important to have targets higher than you think you can achieve: We could see the beckoning peaks of Bhageeratha, Medha and Meru Parvatha ranges !

Watch every step of your way to the target:
It was a hard trek on a steep, bouldered terrain. One slip and you knew you would be down into the deep gorges leaping into the majestic river Bhageerathi (Ganga flowing towards Gangothri from Gaumukh, the visible source of the Ganges).

Enjoy your way to the target. Or else the task becomes tougher!: (Harmony among your teammates is vital.) While we carefully climbed, we stopped to soak in the endless beauty of changing vegetation, magical streams shimmering in the bright sun, little white water falls popping out of nowhere!
We traversed through the natural plantations of Chidwasa (pine range) and Bhojwasa (The Bhurjapatra range) changing with the altitude. And the effect of Vanaspathy can only be experienced.

Closer to Gaumukh, the vegetation is sparse with some hardy shrubs and very small bush birds like the Thrushes, due to low oxygen levels. There are no birds of prey...there is no prey here!

You could feel the harmony pervading around you. Anybody would help if you faced problems.

Keep your energy levels intact Irrespective of your ‘will’ to achieve: Physical fitness is paramount in any climb. I should extol the virtues of the tiny badam and tinier raisins. A couple of them you chew and phew ! You start doubling up. Dry fruits are great re-vitalisers and I discovered this on the mountains. Savouring them at the coffee table is nothing.

You feel great when you reach the target and realise it was not that tough after all ! When we reached Gaumukh, at about 11:30 a.m., it was a sense of achievement for the whole team. Some shot their 'V' signs into the sky, some wept and some of us stood stunned at the quietly flowing crystal-clear water. She was not the rough riding Bhageerathi but the placid Ganga from the rocks of Bhageeratha peak just above. The rock formation looks like the mouth of the holy cow and hence called Gaumukh.
And the mighty Himalayas stand there majestically unaware of us, the minions, feeling proud of our achievement. I felt it was surely an inviting gesture to aim higher. And apprehensions cast aside, an aspiration for the next expedition started budding in me. Or is it the call of the mountains?
— Indira

Cultural evening at Brigade Millennium amphitheatre
The floodlit amphitheatre at Millennium Park, in the Brigade Millennium campus, came alive on 24 April with the Brigade-Resource Cultural Evening. The show, featuring both solo and group performances, was an entertaining blend of skits, music and dance. While the atmosphere was informal, the quality of the performances spoke of days of serious practice and effort.


The evening started with a duet by
Manisha (L) of Brigade and
Tushar (R) of Resource.