Girish's Blog

The first time we applied for the visa to Germany in April 2017 it was rejected saying that the purpose of our visit was not clear and there was no certainty that we would return to India. We were really shocked as all our papers were absolutely clear and we had booked non-refundable Air France return tickets in January 2017 itself thinking that our visa was a sure-shot thing. Just goes to show how paranoid Europe has become over the refugee crises!! We got the visa rejection letter on May 3 and thereafter Vallari’s exams were to start and get over on May 25. Vallari said we could take appointment with VSF for the 23 rd as her last practical was on 25 th , which we did. The line this time was much shorter (first attempt we were in visa office from noon to 4.30pm though our appointment was for 12.15pm). After we filed our application, we got an sms the very next day that the application had been processed – this was due to the mail sent by a sadhika’s husband who is a member of parlia...

Dandi Ashram, Navsari, 24 th February, 2017 We were to be nine sadhaks travelling to Navsari on 23 rd , but in the end two dropped out and two decided to travel late in the evening, as a result our two cars reduced to one and we had a pretty comfortable journey. I left home at 5.07 am and picked up Deepaliji and Harishji at 5.23am (8 minutes behind schedule). I had requested Umeshji to be ready on the highway at Mira Road at 5.45am. I reached the spot at 5.40am, ahead of schedule and we waited for Umeshji who came bang on time. We got stuck at the Vasai creek bridge for about 15 minutes and then we were on our way to the Ashram. We got very heavy traffic and weaving through the traffic made the going a bit slow. I had factored this parameter into the travel time and had informed our fellow sadhaks that we would reach the Ashram by 10am. After a breakfast halt of 45 minutes at Vithal Kamats at 7am, we left for Dandi and reached the Ashram at 10.15am. During the journey, I ...