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font-family: Verdana">&#8226;</span></span><span class="style6" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><a href ="Travelogue.html"><span class="style7">Darjeeling and the Chanticleer</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /> <span style="letter-spacing: 1pt"> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Verdana">&#8226;</span><span class="style6" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><a href ="Travelogue2.html"><span class="style7">The Great Glen &amp; The Isle Of Skye</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Verdana">&#8226;</span><span class="style6" lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><a href ="Travelogue3.html"><span class="style7">Roerichs: Far from the Maddening crowds</span></a><o:p><br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Verdana">&#8226;</span><a href ="Travelogue4.html"><span class="style7">Sauchihall Street </span></a><o:p></o:p></o:p></span></span></td> <td width="325px" style="padding: 10px 5px 5px 5px; width: 650px;" valign="top"> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">The Great Glen &amp; The Isle Of Skye <o:p></o:p></span></b> </p> <p align="right" class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">by:Suchita Malik<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Scotland is famous not only for its Scotch Whisky and its beautiful  lochs , but also for the exquisite forests and natural resources. The rich splendour of its  glens and  isles can find few parallels in the beautiful world of Nature. A  Glen is basically a small, narrow, secluded valley full of natural foliage, flora and fauna. Naturally, the existence of a valley would mean the co-existence of highlands. The beauty of its highlands is to be seen to be believed. Perhaps, it was this lovely spectacle that Wordsworth had in mind while composing his famous poem, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Solitary Reaper</i> : <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p> &nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Behold her, single in the field, <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Yon solitary Highland Lass!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Reaping and singing by herself;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Stop here, or gently pass!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>...O listen! for the vale profound<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Is overflowing with the sound. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p align="center" class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p> &nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> While in Scotland, we had been longing to visit the  Great Glen and the famous Isle of Skye. The high-velocity chilly winds coming from the north and the highly unpredictable weather conditions do not permit much of sight-seeing in Scotland during October to March. It is only with the arrival of Easter warmth that outdoor schedule takes precedence over anything else. Meeting Ian Mckenzie at such a juncture was a Godsend. An Australian by birth, settled in Scotland with Alina, his Scot wife, Ian is a devout Christian. Incidentally, he has spent twenty years as a Christian Missionary in India. The Mckenzies organise tour programmes for overseas students every year during this part of the year. Their travel programme indeed came as a boon to us. One could not have better utilised the Easter holidays than a visit to a number of places in the Scottish highlands.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"><o:p> &nbsp;</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The retired couple organised a visit to some of the most scenic places in Scotland which included some exotic glens and lakes like Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy, the ribbon shaped lochs which fill most of the Great Glen s 55 mile (88 km) floor, and above all, the Isle of Skye. <o:p></o:p> </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The story of the glen goes back more than 350 million years to a time when colossal upheavals in the Earth s crust were taking place. These resulted in the fracture in the crust known as the Great Glen fault. The Great Glen cuts diagonally across the Scottish highlands from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea. Glaciers filled the glen during the Ice Ages and rocks caught in the slow-moving ice acted like sandpaper, gauging away the valley sides and floor. The result was the steep hillsides which contribute so much to the glen s grandeur. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The glen has also been the only practicable route across this part of Scotland from the earliest times. The English appreciated its strategic importance in the 17th and 18th centuries and built forts to control the turbulent Highland Clans ----Fort William at the glen s Western End, Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch Ness and Fort George near Inverness. <o:p></o:p> </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Our group consisted of a few families of different nationalities and the generous hosts. We all assembled in the morning at Mr Mckenzie s house where we familiarised ourselves with other families and also the schedule for the day. The other families included two<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span> Indian families, two Chinese , two Nepalese, one from Pakistan and two Scottish. It was a five-day tour towards the Western side of Glasgow and we were to camp at night at Fort Augustus and share a community kitchen where each group of one nationality would cook their own food for the rest of the group. The idea was to have a variety of gourmet each day and yet remain not so busy and occupied on days when you have your turn to cook. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>A cup of piping hot tea together in the cold weather and off we started in two small coaches towards our destination. Passing through the Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and enjoying the lush green scenery around, we travelled through Glencoe to Fort William for a short stop. Mountains rise abruptly from the ribbon-shaped sides of the lochs. Woodland on the lower slopes consists of heather trees or rough grassland but on the highest summits only alpine plants such as dwarf willow can be seen. Rivers in side glens cascade over the waterfalls and they pass through wooded ravines before finally joining the lochs. Our fleeting visit to Fort William was basically a cruise through scenic splendour to the timeless haunts of a variety of wildlife.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>We, then, proceeded along the Great Glen passing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom which is approximately 4,406 ft high. It was both interesting and amazing to stand on Ben Nevis and tell the children that it was their highest mountain, a fact they found hard to believe and digest. The cliff-like mountain stood<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>as<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>an absolute contrast in comparison to the mammoth size of our very own Indian mountains. We, then, passed through the Commando Memorial which is a tribute to the valour of the unknown soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country. A wreath of flowers is permanently placed there as a mark of respect. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>From here, we, straightway, headed towards Fort Augustus which is the largest of the lochside villages. As we entered the village, we had to cross two bridges one after the other. The first was the bridge over the River Oich and the second, a rotating swing bridge which crossed the Caledonian Canal. Just beyond this second bridge, we could see the Fort Augustus Abbey. The Fort that gives Fort Augustus its name was one of a series of forts built by the Hanoverians to secure the Great Glen ; Fort George near Inverness, Fort Augustus in the heart of the Glen and Fort William at the southern end. Augustus was the name of King George 2nd s son who was later called  The Butcher after the bloody defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden and his sadistic part in that battle. However, Fort Augustus did not remain a place of war for long, rather it was destined to become a place of great peace, a Benedictine monastery for monks whose motto was  pax ---peace.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p> </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Between the Abbey and the Caledonian Canal lay the old Fort Augustus school building which now served as the Clansman Centre. This was a superb reconstruction of the old highland blackhouse where the highlanders lived in ancient times. Just walking along the canal was extremely beautiful and the village also offered facilities of a caravan and camping site besides having an excellent golf course. We set up our camp in the village and this was to be our base for the next few days.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Going to the heart of the Great Glen was the next exciting thing on our minds. In fact it is believed that there are few better places in this world to enjoy than Glenmoriston. The Glen has it all ----extraordinary beauty, tales of courage and an air of serenity and peace that can rarely be found in the busy world in which we live. Writing in 1933, the traveller H.V. Morton wrote :  Fifteen miles of beauty lie between hills. They are called Glenmoriston . In fact Glenmoriston extends more like 25 miles towards the Isle of Skye. It can be a sheer pleasure to walk or drive along the glen. About five miles along one can walk beside the calm waters of Dundreggan Loch (Dundreggan means  the hill of the dragon ). Seen all around are the wild flowers, the deciduous and pine woodlands and the ever present river Moriston. Plenty of wild-life is also to be found in the glen. Different varieties of birds are found around the district, but one can keep one s eyes open for woodpeckers, siskins and fieldfares flocking to eat the berries of the Rowan trees. Pine martens and wildcats populate the area living on a diet of small mammals berries and even small birds and birds eggs. One can spot an occasional fox or the indigenous red squirrel. In fact, the Great Glen itself acts as a flight path for migrating sea birds between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Glen Affric is a magical place with its large area of native forest set amongst mountain and loch. The forest in Glen Affric is thought to have existed since the end of the ice-age, some 8000 years ago. The name Affric comes from the Gaelic  Ath-Bhreac , meaning dappled ford. In earlier times, Scot pines, mixed with other native trees such as birch and rowan, covered much of Scotland but only 1% of the original native woodland exists these days. As one of the most important native woodlands in Scotland Glen Affric, spread over an area of 9,000 hectares, has been designated a Caledonian Forest Reserve. The Forestry Commission had bought the Glen in 1951. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Equally fascinating was Glencoe ----the vale of weeping, a wildly beautiful pass among the Lorn Mountains. It is one of the most romantic spots in the Highlands<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>and it was the scene of the notorious massacre in 1692 of some of the Macdonald clan by the Campbells. Some of the nearby Glens include Glen Garry, Glen Cannich, Glen Moriston and Glen Urquhart. It is interesting to note that on the last Saturday in August every year since 1945, the Glenurquhart Highland Games takes place. This is a great event and many people both local and from across the highlands take part in this amateur games which include from throwing the hammer to the pipe and dance contests. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>A walk in the heart of the picturesque glens among the flora and fauna of the Nature surrounded by the tall pine, heather and conifer trees against the stunning backdrop of the beautiful mountains and the calm waters of the Lock Ness was refreshing indeed. It was also interesting to be in a group of people from different nationalities and to realise that all human beings were subject to same feelings, ideas and emotions. Everyone was wonderstruck at the beauty of Nature at its best --- the pure, virgin beauty untouched and unharmed by man. The different species created by God, the super-Creator but all appeared to be in harmony and in communion with Nature and it Creator.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>After having a glimpse of the beautiful Glens, we decided to go to the Isle of Skye. We started from Invergarry which is the starting point of the  road to the Isles  , the route from the Great Glen to the Kyle of Lochalsh. The town lies on the northern bank of the River Garry where it flows into Loch Oich. Loch Oich is the smallest of the lochs which lie in the Great Glen but its scenery is outstanding. The little town is very important as a vital link in communications between the mainland and Skye, but it is also an active fishing port and is an excellent centre for touring and walking holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp;</span>From the Kyle of Lochalsh, one has to take the ferry to reach the Isle of Skye. It is one of the most fascinating and enchanting view that one comes across from the Isle. Norsemen called it Skuyo,  the misty isle ...its hold on the romantic imagination comes from links with Bonnie Prince Charlie. The island is also a hiding place of the rare otters and one is constantly on the look-out for one. The scenery around is a delight to the eyes. The greyish-blue water all around matching subtly with the deep, infinite sky, the mild waves rising to and fro, the long stretch of beach ahead, all contributing to the glory of the impeccable Nature. It was a rare treat for the children who went wild to see different kinds of sea-shells embedded in the beach. It was a collection spree galore for each of them and they had their hearts fill. One could also see many tourists and natives collecting a specific kind of shell which contains the murrel fish and is considered to be a delicacy. After spending a wonderful day in the lap of sensuous Nature, we came back to our base camp in Fort Augustus to spend the night.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>After having a view of the glens and the lochs, all of us decided for minor detours at Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston where the road winds through the villages. The river Enrick flows under the old Telford built bridge in the village of Drumnadrochit and after crossing it we straightway reached the busy village full of greenery. Arriving in the pretty village of Drumnadrochit, one immediately became aware of the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon about which I have written in an earlier article. There are two Loch Ness Monster Exhibitions in the village. Next to the  official exhibition is a life-sized statue of Nessie. The village also has hotels and bars along with a cluster of gift and souvenir shops, one of which contains an excellent glass-blowing demonstration. A walk around this pretty village is like a breath of fresh breeze with its tubs of flowers and friendly people. The village also has the second largest Spanish sweet chestnut tree in Scotland, a tree that in the local legend was the hanging tree where many a villain met their fate in days gone by.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The town of Inverness-shire was the next on our itinerary. It is said to be one of the most beautiful and scenic trips in the whole of Europe. The town is on the narrow neck of land between Loch Ness and the sea. Inverness is an excellent touring centre. This is called  the capital of the Highlands , with many nearby places to visit. To its east lies the Culloden battlefield. The nineteenth century  castle here was preceded by a series of defensive forts. At the Castle, close to town s centre, Flora Macdonald s statue stands above the banks of the River Ness. She gazes south-west towards the countryside where Bonnie Prince Charlie hid after his defeat at Culloden in 1746. A walk alongside the loch leading up to the castle is both pleasant and refreshing ------cool water of the loch on one side and the beautiful, colourful flowers adorning the lush green grass on the other side of the pavement. The loch water is also said to be containing lot of salmon (a kind of fish). <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Our hosts, the Meckenzies had arranged for a few local families to get together in the heart of the city. Each family was assigned the task of hosting one family for lunch, some cultural interaction and showing around the city. It was amazing to see the kind, warm and generous attitude of the local Scots who had taken proper care to ensure that we had a total vegetarian lunch. English language being no barrier amongst us, it was easier to interact and appreciate the nuances and the traditions of the other culture and to understand human nature. Pleasantries and formalities over, it was time to bid farewell and take leave of the magnanimous hosts. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> <span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>And thus, ended our wonderful trip to some of the most beautiful Glens and the Isle of Skye in Scotland. This has been certainly the unforgettable experience in our life.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <!-- <td height="408" valign="top"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" > <tr> <td width="30%" valign="top"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tablebrdrightdotted"> <tr> <td height="27" valign="top"> <div align="center"><font color="#AC1B6B"><strong>President</strong></font></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="23" valign="top"> <div align="center"><img src="web-20Images/BUTTONS/buttomn-2.gif" width="159" height="3"></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <div align="center"><img src="PHOTOS/Usha-20ji/Usha-ji-special.gif" width="100" height="129" class="tablebrdPink"><br> </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="209" valign="top" class="tdpaddingLR"> <div align="justify"> <p align="center"> <font color="#AC1B6B"><strong>Message</strong></font></p> <p>It is heartening to reach you through our very own I.A.S.O.W.A Uttar Pradesh site. The need for one has been felt since long, and it is indeed a warm feel to have realized it, through an absolute &#8216;in-house&#8217;effort of our members! <a href="President Message.html" target="_self" class="morelink">-----</a><a href="President Message.html" target="_self" class="morelink">more</a></p> </div></td> </tr> </table></td> <!-- <td width="40%" valign="top"> <table width="98%" height="390" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tablebrdrightdotted" > <tr valign="top"> <td height="26" colspan="2"> <div align="center"><font color="#AC1B6B"><strong>Executive Committee Members<br> </strong></font></div></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td height="22" colspan="2"> <div align="center"><img src="web-20Images/BUTTONS/buttomn-2.gif" width="226" height="3"></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="50%" valign="middle"> <div align="center"><img src="PHOTOS/Mrs-20Surbhi/Surabhi-Passport.gif" width="80" height="102" class="tablebrdPink"><br> </div></td> <td valign="top" > <p>&nbsp;</p> <p align="left"><font color="#AC1B6B"><strong> <img src="web-20Images/Gif/arrows-right-.gif" width="8" height="8"> Vice President and<br> &nbsp;Cultural Secretary</strong><strong><br> </strong></font><font size=1><strong><font size=1><strong><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp; Mrs</font></strong></font> </strong></font><strong>Surbhi Ranjan</strong><font color=#000000 size=1><strong><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br> </font></strong></font></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <div align="center"> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p align="right"><font color="#AC1B6B"><strong>Secretary</strong><strong> <img src="web-20Images/Gif/arrows.gif" width="8" height="8"> <br> </strong></font><font color=#000000><strong><font size=1><strong><font size=1><strong><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Mrs</font></strong></font> </strong></font>Seema Tiwari </strong></font></p> </div></td> <td align="center" valign="middle" > <p align="center"><img src="PHOTOS/Passport-20size/Seema-Tewary.gif" width="80" height="102" class="tablebrdPink"><font color=#AC1B6B size=1><strong><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"> </font></strong></font><font color=#333333 size=1><strong><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"> </font></strong></font></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="135" valign="top"> <div align="center"><img src="PHOTOS/Passport-20size/Vineeta-Kumar.gif" width="80" height="102" class="tablebrdPink"></div></td> <td valign="middle"> <p align="left"><font color="#AC1B6B"><strong> <br> <br> <img src="web-20Images/Gif/arrows-right-.gif" width="8" height="8"> Treasurer</strong></font><strong><font color="#AC1B6B"><br> </font><font color=#000000><strong><font size=1><strong><font size=1><strong><font size="2" face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Mrs</font></strong></font></strong></font></strong></font><strong> Vinita Kumar</strong><font color="#AC1B6B"> </font></strong></p> <div align="left"><font color=#ffffff size=4><strong><font color=#666666 size=1 face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"></font></strong></font> </div> <p align="center"><font color=#AC1B6B size=1><strong><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br> </font></strong></font><font color=#333333 size=4><strong><font size=1 face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br> </font></strong></font></p></td> </tr> </table></td> <!--<td width="30%" valign="top"> <table width="100%" height="392" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="253" height="188" valign="top" background="web-20Images/Gradients/Untitled-1.gif" class="tdpaddingLR" > <p align="justify"><font color="#993366"><strong><font color="#000000" size="1" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br> </font></strong></font><font color="00356E"><strong> Events &amp; News</strong></font></p> <div align="justify"><font color="00356E"> </font><font color="00356E"> <marquee behavior="scroll" direction="up" scrollamount="2" scrolldelay="1"> <strong><font color="#003399" size="2">Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award to Rashmi Singh, Director, Mission Convergence (Samajik Suvidha Sangam), GNCTD New Delhi, March 10, 2010. </font></strong><font color="#003399" size="2"></font></marquee> </font></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18" valign="top" bgcolor="#CC6699"> <div align="center"><a href="Rashmi Singh.html" target="_self"><strong>For Award Details Click Here</strong></a></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="168" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <div align="center"><br> <script type="text/javascript"> /*********************************************** * Translucent Slideshow script- © Dynamic Drive DHTML code library (www.dynamicdrive.com) * This notice MUST stay intact for legal use * Visit Dynamic Drive at http://www.dynamicdrive.com/ for full source code ***********************************************/ var trans_width='200px' //slideshow width var trans_height='200px' //slideshow height var pause=3000 //SET PAUSE BETWEEN SLIDE (3000=3 seconds) var degree=10 //animation speed. 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