Nawang’s Last Journey: Pauna lake


Pauna Lake from a distance

Reaching the lake

Immersion of Nawang's ashes and pensive thoughts of his friends and family

Nawang had spent many happy days on the banks of the Pauna Lake near Lonavla, Mumbai. He had stayed with a Japanese philosopher Dr G M Maeda near this lake and learnt a lot from him. Nawang’s Ashes were immersed in this lake on 26^th November 2000 at 11 a.m. by family and friends.

As the group sat silently on the bank of the Pauna Lake, in front of a photo of Nawang, one could only hear chirping of birds and mild slashing of waters of the lake. In this serene moment Nawang’s ashes were immersed by the family after the earthen pot containing the ashes passed each of his friends present. Forts of Visapur, Lohagad, Tung and Tikona—each of them climbed by Nawang, reflected in the still waters of the lake and blessed him.

Finally someone shouted the motto of Nawang’s Gorkha Regiment; Kafar Bhanda, Maran Ramro (It is better to die in Valour than to live like a Coward). With echo of this as the final tribute, the party returned with a tear in every eye.

The Pauna Lake, meaning an immortal lake, had truly became one today.