THE OLD ORDER CHANGES YIELDING PLACE TO NEW..And that is exactly what is happening in the hill-station of Mussoorie. After years of witnessing their hometown going to the dogs quite literally, a group of likeminded youngsters have joined hands and mind to be the change they want to see in Mussoorie.

A growing group of 700 members within a few months of being created by admin Sudhanshu Rawat, a resident of Mussoorie, ANGAAR has since then become a think-tank and do-tank. These young, energetic and determined lot have taken things into their own hands and are doing what many would either ignore, politicians would encash and many would rather look the other way.

In his late twenties, Sudhanshu speaks for all when he says, “For years and now generations we have been hearing about the grand-old days of Mussoorie and how its gone from bad to worse. This is a group which has decided to dedicate their talent, the social media and our determination in making sure that we will ourselves will do our bit in making their hometown return to its glorious past.”

ANGAAR as the group is titled, clearly screams ‘NO POLITICS JUST WORK’ is not to be taken lightly. This group of passionate members is growing in number and strength with each passing day. There are no leaders here. Everyone works with the single-minded goal of making their hometown a better, safer, brighter and cleaner place.

With lots of ideas and plans discussed to and fro, the group has made its presence felt with Traffic Awareness Rally, Cleanliness Drive, Beautification Drive done along with Stambh, and are promising new changes in the future as well.

‘How long will we blame our politicians and their politics and be mute witness to the degradation of our hill-town?’ is the liet-motif on which the group works upon and  perhaps its time this ANGAAR or flame spreads like a forest-fire and becomes the change we all want to see.

Mukteshwar, A dream dreamt by siblings as kids, becomes a beautiful reality. Kushika and Kanika Sharma two sisters, the older one armed with a post graduate degree in Human Rights along with a scholarship in entrepreneurship from ISB Hyderabad, while the younger one Kushika holds an MBA in Logistics and supply-chain have made their childhood dream come true.

Two years back, after their stint in making it big in their respective jobs, they gave it all up to chase their dream project, DYO-the Organic Farm. Today the 5 room resort lives up to its name, ‘Dyo’ which means ‘heaven’ in Sanskrit. Perched atop a sprawling 25 acre farm land in Mukteshwar Uttarakhand, the resort is surrounded by orchards and poly-houses.

Kushika, reminiscences, ‘as school going children, the exodus of the abled from the hills to the plains in search of a lucrative future moved us, we thought of bridging organic with high end hospitality which could work for everyone. Thus, we thought of promoting organic farming resort which would mean something more than just a mere destination.’

Over the months, a resort, dotted with poly-houses came up offering utmost luxury. Three years down the line, the duo boast of no dearth of clients who make a beeline to the resort from all over the country and foreign shores as well. Kushika adds, ‘ Dyo is 350 Kms from Delhi via road, 60 kms from the lake-town of Nainital with the nearest railway station Kathgodam just 63 kms away.   Whoever has visited us has liked it and most of them have extended their stay,’ she adds with a tinkle in her eyes.

A retinue of 20 plus local employees assists in running the resort. Along with this, the siblings have given girls from nearby communities the perfect platform to showcase their skills of local cuisine or art by inviting them DYO, if interested.

Dyo-Organic is a big hit with families who are looking for more than just a luxury vacation in cooler climes. There is something for everyone to do, even if it means handpicking your choice of fruits, veggies or herbs from the poly-houses that the chef turns into a lip-smacking meal. This is an hands-on educational tour along with a luxurious stay in the lap of scenic beauty along with organic food, something you just cant get enough off and you keep coming back for a little bit more of DYO.