Russia and Russians as I know

Like all others I too look forward for the day when conflict between Russia and Ukraine will end.
I have been associated with Russians since my days in Indian Oil Corporation's Refinery at Barauni when Russia was Soviet Union or USSR in 1967 .That Refinery was built by Russians with aid thrown in. Russians had a separate 3 blocks as their hostel.
I remember our ceremonial football matches  against Russians after the 15th August flag hoisting.
We were evenly matched but as the refinery expansion work was petering out so during the  last  encounter they somehow cobbled up 11  players with the lady interpreter playing as goalkeeper. I was the captain of Indian side. Yes,that match we won but don't feel proud about it but appreciate their sporting spirit. Two Russian words used by the players during the match still ring in my ears "dabai" (give )and "khorosho"(good).
I must admit that Russians freely shared their engineering calculations.  There was a problem of tankage area not getting proper illumination from Tower lights,each tower had 6 flood lights of 1000 watt each. Though I got all bulbs replaced but still it was not adequate. I went to our archives and looked up illumination design of the plant and I could lay my hand on original calculations and settings. I corrected the solid angle of each of the flood light as per calculated setting, the problem got resolved. That gave me confidence that I can resolve any problem related with Electrical equipment because of those engineering documents.
Next I came across Russian designed 210 MW turbine and generator in BHEL. At one stage in 80s these 210 MW sets were the backbone of Indian grid. Again elaborate documentation helped to carry out repair and maintenance of these sets. I commissioned 5 such sets of LMZ at Singrauli Superthermal Power Station from 1982 to1984.
During my posting at Vizag Steel Plant from 1988 I again met whole lot of Russian experts and their families at Ukkunagaram, the township of steel plant .  They had a separate colony inside the township with shop and school. During that stay when  Russia disintegrated and those experts were totally dismayed about their nationalities. Overnight friends became foe. Their passports became invalid because Russia was fragmented. Suddenly the usual cheerful Russians became grumpy as their future was uncertain. By 1991 December Russia finally became many countries.
I had visited both Russia and Ukraine in 2003 ,I still remember visiting World Famous art museum Hermitage in St Petersburg, standing on the Red Square in Moscow.  I also enjoyed a show of circus in Moscow, they have permanent hall for circus. I still remember the breathtaking acrobatics by Russian gymnasts.
We visited LMZ turbine factory on the right bank of river Neva in St Petersburg.Steam turbines have been produced here since 1907 when the company was licensed to build French Rateau turbines. At the same time it began to build gun turrets, gun mountings and torpedo tubes. It was like our own turbine block at Bhopal. When I met the design engineers then didn't see any computer around,I was curious about this not having computer which by that time has become necessary tool in India. When i asked their chief about it then he gave a tolerant smile to me and said tapping his head, "all data stored here ! "
Curiously our guide Alexendrov who was an  accomplished engineer with 7 patents under his belt was not carrying any laptop.
Then I remembered their famous Grandmaster like Karpov, Spassky etc could out maneuver many,to me it appeared each of those engineers were having Karpov or Spassky like quality of storing data in mind.
Our stay in Kiev was eventful, we had visited a tram manufacturing factory known as Tatra Yug. They organized a special tram ride for us to take round of the city.
In both the countries I met hardworking intelligent engineers of both sex.
Yesterday when I heard that a dam in Ukraine has been bombarded by Russian and caused flooding.
I felt sad  and frustrated. This mindless war must end, I feel for those civilians of both the countries.

The Northern light

Yupik thrust a gaming rifle to me, I was terrified as we were chased by a pack of wolves in that snowy Siberia. I had fired a few shots during my NCC days but this situation was of life and death. Our sled pulled by husky dogs was smoothly sliding on piegnartoq (solid ice in Eskimo language), the green Northern light or Aurora Borealis was sufficient enough to see the vast icy landscape but suddenly the pack of wolves appeared from nowhere.

I had not bargained for this kind of adventure when Alexendrov offered me in Moscow to show Eskimos and their life styles. It was planned as two days trip, take two and half hours flight by Ural Airlines to Tbilisi, check in the hotel and  go to the nearest sled station for a round trip in that Siberian habitat of Eskimos. Stay the night in Tbilisi after the trip and next day return. It looked a very convenient plan to me so I had agreed.

From Tbilisi airport, Alexandrov and me took a taxi to a cheap hotel named Ma Xata, within half an hour we were in the hotel. It was in April ,the days were short but if we were lucky enough then it would be possible to see the Northern light during the late evening. We had a quick lunch then headed for the sled station at the out skirt of Tbilisis for our journey to the heart of Siberia by sled.

We had two sled drivers Insupiat and Yupik , over my jacket I was wearing a hooded parka and snow goggles to save the eyes from frost. Four of us on the sled, it was moving at 20km/h speed with 6 husky dogs were pulling it.The icy wind was hitting my face, i pulled out the stainless steel flask from my parka pocket and took a swig of brandy.It was ice everywhere a few slades zipped past,shadowy skeleton of fur trees were visible at the horizon. Slowly evening was setting in, I was eagerly waiting for the nature’s miracle. Suddenly Yupik shouted and said something in his language, Alexendrov  told me that we were lucky and pointed at the Northern sky. The sky was yellowish green and an inverted cone, which was moving like sea waves in the sky. The green light with occasional  blue and violet was reflected on the ice and was casting a magic spell all around. It was ice all around so the view was magnificent. For me it was like watching a surreal show , produced and directed by some mighty force. The distant fur trees were acting like stage where this magical display was demonstrated ,we stopped the sled to watch the display.

We were mesmerized but our two Eskimo friends were alert when they heard some howling at a distance. They turned the sled for returning, we had to abandon the plan of visiting an Igloo. Now a days of course Eskimos stay in regular concrete houses but some igloos are there for display to the tourists.

The hungry pack of wolves were chasing us, the dogs also increased their speed,  the sled was moving at 30 km/h speed, the icy wind was buffeting our faces. The magic moment of sighting the Northern light became a nightmare. I took the rifle and pulled the trigger, it was a Remington repeater bolt action old style rifle. Insupiat was driving the sled, we three were firing at the wolves. Yupik was in cool frame of mind, our rifle shots had discouraged those wolves, Yupik pulled out a sack from the tarp covering our belongings and unbound it, pulled out some dry reindeer meat  which he kept as emergency food, started throwing the meat pieces at those wolves. Those wolves slowed down, started sniffing at the thrown meat pieces. I was terrified but then I could see the silhouette of those wolves in the multi color three dimensional light of Aurora Borealis in the northern sky. I will never forget that experience in my life.

The Aurora is an incredible light show caused by collisions between electrically charged particles released from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere and collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. The lights are seen around the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres.

I was sitting on my favourite chair in the drawing room, the bottle of pill given by the sadhu to enhance my virtual travel ability was on the table. I reread Jack London's White Fang and watched Ice Station Zebra to ferret out information on the polar region before popping the pill. I had the above experience as the pill triggered the capsules in my memory wall, the story which my subconscious mind was building came alive, it appeared as though i was watching a 3 D movie where i was one of the casts.