UK

My UK visit

(Sept. 2016)

UK-Visa processing work done at Kolkata (on 1^st July 2016)

Myself, and Mr Banshidhar Mohapatra visited UK–Visa centre at Kasaba, Rajdanga (near Acropolis mall), Kolkata. Visa processing was smooth and hassle free.

My UK (academic) visit was partly funded by (ICSSR) Govt. of India. ISA (International Sociology Association) RC-33 group had approved my proposal of conducting and chairing a session (on Research Methodology) at their University of Leicester Conference. For this Mr. Banshidhar Mohapatra (retd ISS) and my scholar, Dr. Biswa Behari Das had also confirmed their participation, in same session. We had done our UK VISA processing at Kolkata office, during July 1^st week (2016). It was done in one day, as we both (Mr Banshidhar Mohapatra and me) visited UK–Visa centre at Kasaba, Rajdanga (near Acropolis mall), Kolkata.

Ourflight for Delhi was at 2 pm, on 11^th September (Sunday). So thought of leaving residence at 12 noon. Dash/ Chiku Babu (apartment neighbour) offered to drop me and Mahapatra babu at airport. We reached BBSR airport by 12:30, and luggage clearance and security check in another 30 minutes. Reached IGI airport Delhi before 5 pm. Mr. Bansidhar Mohapatra was really a very enthusiastic persons, my fellow passenger. We had to wait at Delhi airport for nearly 7 hrs, for the connecting flight.

After a wait of 4/5 hours, we then found some minor hick- up, in the form of luggage ‘un-traceability’. After a frantic query of 20 /30 minutes, AI staff could finally locate (through internet) and made it through to LHR (Heathrow airport, London). Immigration, boarding pass, security check took 1 more hour and then we entered allocated gate, again to wait for 2 more hours. Wait was bit painful but spent time mostly in net and telephone. We were bit anxious. Remaining hours of night passed without any sleep.

Boarded airbus AI flight for London at around 2 am as flight left for the destination as per schedule, at 2:30 am, on 12^thMidnight. And we landed the ‘dreamland’ London, early morning (local time), by 7 am. There was a very long queue before the immigration check desk. It took almost 1 hour. Luckily, the local cab driver (Miren, a Gujurati fellow) came in time and was really quite professional. For a 2/3 hours’ drive to Leicester, we had to pay 90 pounds (almost Rs. 8000). We enjoyed the scenic surroundings on our way. Reached the University of Leicester (conference venue) by 1 pm. We got our respective room keys of guesthouse room; then rushed to conference registration counter. It looked organised but very very informal (unlike Indian conference), which would look all ceremonial. For lunch also they were charging fees. It looked bit odd to us (we the Indians).

Anyway, we had enough stuff, taken from India, to eat. As per the arrangement, my old student (from BU Berhampur) Mr. Sandip Mohapatra came to receive us by 3:30 pm. He is now well settled there at Leicester with his family. He has a good house and a costly car. He took us first to his house for tea, and then took us in his car to nearby town, Birmingham. Visited a Hindu temple (Tirupati Balaji) and then returned back to Leicester, where he treated us in a very good Indian restaurant for dinner. We came back to our university guesthouse by 9 pm.

Biswa Bihari Das (my PhD scholar & co–author) reached the conference venue the next day (on13^th Tuesday), by 12:30 noon. Here breakfast was very good and free (complimentary). We had heavy breakfast; so we skipped the paid–lunch. Attended a few other sessions of conference; interacted with a few delegates and with the conference coordinator; then planned for a city tour by bus. It was 6 pound-ticket for ‘all day tour’; so we tried to locate first railway station of Leicester town, and then we (three of us) moved around the town by city buses. We had some wonderful experience and gained some (geographical) idea about that locality. Finally, we returned to the university hostel, by 8:30/ 9 pm. All of us were damn tired.

Again, we thought of avoiding dinner. We did not enjoy the food items. Some how we managed with our homemade Indian food. I tried to sleep; but the sleep couldn’t be sound/ proper. Guest-houses were located as independent blocks, bit scattered; It had auto lock doors, everywhere. So, one can’t enter other’s room/ block. And, our mobiles were not working (though I had ISD pack). First 2 nights were really difficult for us to adjust. From 3^rd night, we got acquainted, there in guesthouse. Some how, I managed to sleep, today.

Next day (on, 14^th, Wed), our paper presentation session was in the afternoon. Had very good breakfast (complimentary), and then we attended the morning sessions. Again, we avoided lunch. I prepared for my session and coordinated with other speakers of my session [Manish Kumar from BHU, BB Das and B Mohapatra]. But, to my utter surprise/ dissatisfaction, nobody from the Conference organizing team came to us (to our allotted hall) or even asked for minimum arrangement. I really didn’t like the ‘informal’ attitude of British people/ organisers. Anyway, I somehow managed in best possible way. In my standard, the session was not so good or impressive, as there was no body in audience to appreciate.

That evening, there was a planned “Gala–dinner” at a different location. We walked down, guided by ourselves, and reached the venue. We couldn’t enjoy even that (paid) Gala–dinner. I didn’t like many items, they served. There was fixed and limited menu. We returned to our guest hous early, somewhat bit un-satisfied.

That night, we packed our things, as we had to go Scotland very next morning, by train.

On 15^th (Thursday), we, 3 of us, had good breakfast, in guesthouse. Also took extra fruits from canteen. Then checked out of guesthouse. I tried my ATM card, for some pound–currency. We had arranged a cab. The driver was again an Indian (Sardarji). He dropped us at Leicester railway station on time. Dr. BB Das had a different train for London. We left first, by 10:30 am. Train journey experience was good. For me, it was my first train journey, to have experienced in UK. We had to change a train from Derby for Edinburgh. We reached our dream destination Scotland (Edinburgh) by 2:30 pm. There was no mobile connection; but somehow contacted our local host, Tattwamasi Mohapatra (by using the mobile phone of a local person). Tattwamasi Babu and his family members were truly amazing people. He had brought tea and snacks, for our refreshment. He had also purchased local train tickets for us.

He waited there, outside the platform, with our luggage. Mr. Banshidhar Mohapatra and myself preferred to have a quick city tour of Edinburgh. We walked for 2 to 3 hours, visited places like Caltron Hill, Edinburg castle and a few other famous monuments. Tattvamashi Babu was waiting for us with all patience. I am so grateful to him.

Then he took us to Linlithgo (by train), where his friend (Bhola Babu) took us around the palace there. We spent over an hour there. Again, Tattwamasi Babu offered snacks. Finally, we reached his house, at Falkirk. It was in a newly developed area. His kids were eagerly waiting for us; his wife had cooked delicious Indian food. We had finally home–cooked Indian food of our choice. They offered us 2 big rooms in upstairs, to sleep. A luxurious bungalow type house, well furnished. There was net connectivity; so we could connect/ talk to our families in India. Took good rest, that night.

Next day (on 16^th Fri), Early in the morning, we got up; and went for morning walk (after tea). It was very cold outside, below 10 degree Fahrenheit. Walked for a while and came back. Took bath, packed things and had some breakfast. Then Tattvamasi Babu took us, in his car to the nearby town, Stirling. Visited castle and the town, then returned again to his Falkirk house. Tattvamasi Babu’s wife, Nini, took all care; she was so courteous, polite and very caring. Gave us a lot of food for our return journey and also packets of chocolates.

Finally, we left Falkirk, by train, for Edinburg. After a gap of 1 hour, we got our train for London at 2 pm. A 5 hours journey. Then we reached London (Kings Cross railway station) by 7 pm.

Somehow, we could locate our hotel (a very small hotel, but very close to station; only 5/7 minutes walk). Though we were tired, thought of walking down the London Streets. We visited London Museums (on a walk). Because of net connection, I could talk to my other student in London, Ms Payal Mago, who invited both of us to her house, next morning.

Payal Maggo (my student) had sent a cab to pick us up, in the morning (on 17^th Sat). We reached her house by 8:30 / 9 am. She is married to a South Indian boy, Mr. Sukan, who was bit shy and reserved natured boy but very polite and decent. They first offered us “aloo paratha” and tea. Then first her husband (Sukan) took us around the area (Greenwitch) and river Thames. As we all had oyster card, we were allowed to use/ travel by all public transport (bus, train, tube and rope-way, air–cab). After half an hour travel, Payal joined us with her baby (son, Ayaansh). Again, we travelled a lot. Because of their guidance and help we could cover many places (London bridge, London eye, Bigben, Parliament etc.) in optimum time duration.

We thought of returning to airport before time. So, Payal arranged lunch for all of us in a good restaurant (so that there is no waste of time for cooking at home). Sukan came with us, upto half the distance, to see us off. Then we boarded metro rail/ tube. Some fellow passengers guided us in time that we had actually boarded a wrong train; so we changed to correct train, that took us to T4 of Heathrow airport.

Immigration, luggage clearance and security check done quickly. Bansidhar Mohapatra was trying seriously for refund of unspent amount in Oyester – card. But, we couldn’t return.And finally time came to say good bye to London/ UK and board the AI airbus, which left for Delhi from Heathrow at 9:30 pm.

There was enough learning experience; and again, by God’s grace the tour was very much hassle free, comfortable, too.

Return flight hospitality (on 18^th Sunday) was much better (than earlier one). Food/snacks, what we got this time, was better. We landed at Delhi (IGI) airport at about 10:30 am. Cleared immigration formalities etc. quickly. Then we had a long (tiring) wait period of 7 hours, till the next flight for BBSR. Talked family members; Bou (mother) was not well; suffering from fever.

I must record here my gratitude to the benevolent hosts, Payal Maggo, Tattwamasi Mohapatra and Sandip Mohapatra, who took care and had given some quality time, during my UK visit (to the cities of London, Leicester and Edinburgh).