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It was Wednesday, November 24, 1971 at 5:00AM when Air India's brand new and 1st 747 the "Emperor Ashoka" came to a halt on the tarmac of the Santa Cruz Airport in Bombay (Mumbai). The door opened and a rush of tropical heat and humidity engulfed the cabin of the aircraft.
Randall and Bob traveled to India on behalf of Sonoma State Universities "Field Experience in India" program as part of their undergraduate double major in Psychology and India Studies. They were preparing a multimedia documentary journal, slide and audio production for public presentation highlighting the culture, philosophy and the spirituality of India. This web page is the beginning
of an internet version of their documentary using the photos and audio
that is currently available from the documentary and filling in with some
photos from other sources.
Ganeshpuri, journey to the sacred town of the Tansa Valley. Pilgrimage to Bhagawan Nityananda’s Ashram "Kalias Nivas", Samadhi and Shiva Mandir (Temple). Down the road is Swami Muktananda's "Shree Gurudev Ashram", Vajreshwari Mandir and Akloli Kund Shiva Mandir. On December 2nd Thursday the three seekers left Ganeshpuri and were off to Bombay by bus and train to stay at the Ascot Hotel. On December 3rd Friday the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) attacked Indian airfields at Srinagar, Avantipur, Pathankot, Amritsar and Faridkot. Soon after that, India was officially at war with Pakistan. Bombay was now in total blackout. The seekers were now in a war zone with air raid sirens blaring periodically.
Kersee said "what happens
to those bullets after they are shot in the air?" and Bob replied they
come down. Then Kersee said, "what the hell are we doing out here?" They
then quite gingerly went indoors and down the stairs to the lobby. Fortunately
the Pakistani intruders were turned away.
On December 8th Wednesday Back to Ganeshpuri to stay at Dr. Kothavalas Thermal Spring Baths and Health resort. On December 11th Saturday with the war continuing, the trio decided to fly "Indian Airlines" to Poona (Pune) where they would land at an Indian Air Force's (IAF) "Lohegaon Air Base". They had heard that the great Bengali holy woman Anandamayi Ma was going to be in Poona. After going through a rigorous search they were allowed to board the aircraft with their cameras and audio equipment. After taking off they took a scenic picture from the plane as they rose in altitude over Bombay for the documentary that they were making. Upon landing Randall, Kersee and Bob were arrested on suspicion of espionage, clandestine spying for the CIA to photograph Bombay's Defense Network. The United States had close ties to the Pakistani Military and was supplying armaments to them. They were arrested the same day that the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise task force arrived in the Bay of Bengal. President Nixon ordered the Task Force there to intimidate the Indian government so that they didn't invade West Pakistan. The Air Force Military Police made the initial arrest at 8:00AM and held them until 11:00AM when custody was turned over to India's "Criminal Investigation Department" (CID). Their Nikon, Minolta and Minox cameras were confiscated as well as their passports. They were offered a deal they could not refuse. The first choice offered was a dubious opportunity to be incarcerated in a cell at the historic "Yerawada Central Prison" where Mohandas Gandhi had been imprisoned for many years on a number of charges, sedition for his writings, breaking the salt law and for fasting in protest. They truly hoped the second choice would be significantly better. The other alternative that was offered was for the trio to pay to stay in a hotel and guards would be posted outside the door. They were prohibited from going outside the Poona Military Cantonment. The choice was simple and they chose to stay at the Amir Hotel, and proceeded there at 2:00PM and three guards were posted. If it was not for Kersee's brother vouching for them, they most likely would have ended up wondering if Gandhi had ever occupied their prison cell.
One guard called to see if an automobile was available but there was not. So they decided that if the trio promised to come back they would let them go alone. They agreed and had a lovely dinner.
They met a very interesting
Swami
Vijayananda at Shree Shree Ma Anandamayi
Ashram.
On December 13th Monday 2 CID officers visited with the pictures and colored slides from the confiscated cameras. The film from the tiny Minox spy camera revealed pictures of Kersee's elderly Aunt and uncle in their home. The CID officers then laid out a series of 36 slides from the Nikon on the table. Then they asked the big question, "Which one of these slides was taken from the airplane over Bombay?" Bob said, "I can't tell, all the slides are blank. The officer then said, "You don't understand." The officer then repeated, "which slide was taken from the airplane. Bob pointed and said, "it was this one." The officer picked up the slide and then said, "Thank you very much, sorry for the inconvenience and you are now released from custody. What had happened was the color slide film was a new high speed Ektachrome film and processing for this new film was not available in India. So the film processing was likely done as if it were Kodachrome film therefore all the slides were blank.
In Quest of Meher Baba's boyhood home in Poona. They met his very gracious brother Jal Irani who gave them a tour of the home. They were invited to enter
Meher Baba's meditation room that is accessed through a small door off
the court yard.
December
16th 1971 Thursday Indo-Pakistani War Ends, Pakistan Surrenders.
Indian troops were welcomed as liberators and the nation of "Bangladesh"
was founded.
Chakrapani is a Vedic Astrologer from Kerala, South India. He was born into a traditional
Hindu family of astrologers where the practice of Astrology has been passed
from father to son for many generations. Chakrapani began to receive training
from his father while still a young boy.
Going to meet Anandamayi Ma and see Kersee's Brother and Family. Back to Poona.
In Quest of the Spiritual Jewel of India Special Thanks to Dr. Victor Daniels and Dr. Eleanor Criswell of Sonoma State University's "India Studies" program for making this adventure in India possible. |
Short
Cut to Nirvana:
Kumbh
Mela
Filmed
in Allahabad, India in 2001, this trailer gives the viewer a hint of the
true
flavor of the Kumbh Mela the largest spiritual festival in the world.
Every
12 years for over 2000 years the Kumbh Mela has attracted seekers
who's
spiritual practices range from the common to the extremely unusual.
Short
Cut To Nirvana: Kumbh Mela - Amazon.com
The Play of Light is about the Beauty of Light, of Sound and of Form. As each of these is deeply resonant with the other, the underlying unity that they share is revealed within their dance; and can be realized through direct experience. Within this experience, the mind becomes still and spontaneous Meditation arises. I have developed this technique over a period of 45 years, and this is as effortless and joyful a path into meditation as I am aware of. |
The
Play of Light
Art and Science in the Spirit of Meditation
Be Still
ph:
510.235.5371
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Randall
Fontes, Kersee Bulsara and Bob
Swanson emerged into an ancient land. They went through customs
and with much difficulty hired a car to take them to the small town of
Ganeshpuri
about 60 miles North of Bombay.
That
evening Kersee's brother Pelu sent his car to pick up him and his friends
for dinner at his home. Problem, the guards did not have a car to shadow
the trio so they were delayed in leaving.
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Randall's Web Site
