Dehradun, Jan. 11 -- Where the skies catch fire.

By: Ganesh Saili

'Khushi take, khushi no take, otherwise dusri dukan dekh!' (which meant either buy or don't buy! Otherwise, look at another shop!) grumbled the first generation of businessmen from the plains, struggling with their mix of English and Hindi to communicate with the troopers from the nearby army cantonment depot.

I can still hear the chuckles of the labour leader Gopal Dutt Dimri and my father. Having left school, they arrived in Mussoorie, seeking employment. Edgar and Willie Chowfin, of Mesmore Inter College, Pauri-Garhwal, had made sure the two had a smattering of English, enough to secure employment as salesboys at Fitch & Company, below the General Post Office along th...