Special Edition: Toolika Rani

Squadron Leader, Dr. Toolika Rani

The Mist in Rwenzori

 

Ensconced in the timeless moment,

lost in the verdant embrace

of the densely alive Rwenzori;

The Pearl of Africa.

 

The sky rimmed by a circle

of green abundance of pinnacles

adorning a silver crown;

marvellous, majestic, ah!

 

Rising from the hearth of forest

Floating smoothly across the mountains

Mystic strands of milky mist

An indescribable scene of erotica!

 

A communion, a passing union

or companions of endless eons?

a game of hide and seek

the ever-changing vista.

 

The solid, resolute mass

or the flighty, weightless vapour;

which one steals the hour

emerging as the winner?

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(Rwenzori is a mountain series in Eastern equatorial Africa, on the border of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The poet has described a moment from her climb to the top of highest peak of Rwenzori, Mt. Stanley.)

 

Poet’s Profile:

Squadron Leader (Dr) Toolika Rani is an ex-Indian Air Force Officer, Mountaineer (Everest Climber), International Motivational Speaker (TEDx), Author, Poet, Assistant Professor of History, and was the G-20 Brand Ambassador of Higher Education Department, U.P. Government (2023). She was given ‘Sahitya Shree’ and ‘Young Writer Award’ for her book ‘Beyond That Wall: Redemption on Everest’. Her second book based on her Ph.D. research ‘Sherpas of Solukhumbu: History and Evolution’ delves into the fascinating lives of the Sherpas living at the base of Mt. Everest. A bilingual poet, she has published two books of Hindi poems and one book of English poems. She has edited an international anthology of poems on Himalaya, ‘The Mountain was Abuzz’ which was displayed at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, 2024. She is the co-author of the book, ‘Healing and Growth: Inspiring Stories for Massive Transformation’ published from USA. Contact her on tulich83@gmail.com, or Insta ID toolika_14.

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Setu, August 2024