July 31, 2010

Today we decided to walk to the IIAS which is the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. It's a research institute in Shimla. The walk took us about an hour but it was beautiful and it wasn't raining so we enjoyed the walk. The IIAS is home to many historic decisions regarding India's history. The Shimla Conference was held at the IIAS in 1945. The Simla Conference was about how India would rule after independence and how there would be equal representation for the Muslims and other minorities since India is mostly Hindu. Also, the decision to carve out Pakistan and East Pakistan from India was also decided at the IIAS in 1947. It was very moving for me to be in the same building that shaped India and to be in the same room as Gandhiji and Nehru (India's first prime minister). We had a very good lunch in the dinning hall of the IIAS. The IIAS is now the home of scholars who want to continue their work. One of our IES professor's wrote three books while she studied at IIAS and her son, another professor eventually wants to attend there as well when he is done getting his PHd in Economics.

After IIAS, some people went to the Hanuman Temple which was about a 40 minute walk in the mountains. They had to be careful because like all Hanuman Temples it's surrounded by monkeys, since Hanuman is the monkey god. I wanted to go but I heard stories of the monkeys attacking people, however the groups that went said it wasn't too bad. So, I think if I go to Shimla again, which I want to, I will go to the Hanuman Temple. I looked around with some people who didn't go to the Temple and I got a bag which I really like. After shopping we decided to relax and enjoy the view from our hotel. We ate dinner and relaxed in the hotel since it was raining.