A sorjouner

by Ola Vincent Omotade (Nigeria)

A leap into the unknown Nigeria

Traveling is very much in the air these days, it is common knowledge that education is not complete until one's mind is widened by seeing something of the world. In the West, it is an indispensable part of education. We cannot say so much about ourselves, but nowadays both Government and our colleges here in Nigeria, encourages the habit by granting various consessions and contributions. Opportunities are provided, and we ought to take advantage of these however limited they may be. So when the Railways announced concession to students wishing to undertake educational tour, it was an opportunity too good to be lost, and very soon we made up a small party of five, including our professor of Urban planning, to go out sight seeing into a great country of India. We applied to our principal for some financial assistance, and he was pleased to make contribution out of college funds. What more funds were needed we contributed ourselves. Packing up was a simple affair: each of us got hold of a knapsack or a hold-all into which we pushed all our necessaries. And so one fine day we found ourselves speeding to Orissa by the Puri express. Puri was our first destination. We reached the celebrated side resort early enough in the morning to be able to dump our baggages in a hotel, take some light refreshment, and then rush to the sea-side. To us inlanders, the sea is so marvellous a thing that, whether we are seeing it for the first time or the tenth time,it makes no difference; we just stand and look on and wonder. In the evening we first went to the great Temple and spent a little time looking at it's imposing architecture. we admired both the vastness of the design as well as the intricate pattern of the detailed carvings. We admitted that, whatever Indian ancestors might have been, they were no misers; when they did a thing, they knew how to do it on a grandscale. For a few days, we spent our time visiting the sea and the temple morning and evening, and in between managed to see various places of local interest. Among the last but not the least attractive were the products of the humble handicraftmen, whose skill wins fame for India abroad. Then one morning we took a motor car and started off towards the famous sun temple of Konark- over twenty miles of road, good bad and indifferent. When we reached the famous ruins, it was nearly ten. We got off our car and walked a little distance over the sandy track, and we're at last inside the wall that surrounded the temple. It was in ruins, but what magnificent piece of architecture it must once have been! It was designed as a mighty chariot. The horses and thier grooms seemed to be bustling with life so powerfully these had been carved by the sculptor's chisel; indeed the glory of Konark lies in the stone images of animals. The architecture of India is engolfed with massive splendor and vitality that no other country can rival. One the journey back we took Bhubaneswar on our way. We marveled at the exquisite workmanship of the temple and the design of the Rocky caves nearby. If we could give more time for a thorough examination of these, it would have been worth it. But our alloted time was running out, and we had to hurry back to Puri,and then our homes. There was a great difference between our journey to Puri and the return. Then we were a boisterous party, laughing, singing and enjoying ourselves with the thoughtless abandon of the youth. Now our minds were full. We had become sober and thoughtful. Inevitably we thought of the future if India, the new India all is eager to build, the India that would have to uphold worthily great traditions and give them a shape not unworthy of what thier ancestors had achieved. Truly my feeling as a sorjouner were like those of Coleridge's ancient Mariner who said ' I came like one that hath been stunned, and in the sense of folorn, I became a sadder, wiser man"