Stockholm syndrome

Winter in the Swedish capital is abuzz with activity which reaches its peak with the Nobel Prize-giving ceremony on December 10, says Trilochan Singh Trewn

A street scene in Stockholm during the festive season. — Photos by the writer

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden with its seat of Parliament and government, also has the fascinating Globen (the world’s largest spherical building) and the picturesque Drottningholm Palace where the present Royal family resides.

Several years ago I first visited Stockholm sailing through the Kiel canal and the Baltic sea. The best time to see Stockholm and its magnificent buildings and lakes is during November and December. Every year, it is in the winter that events like the Nobel Prize distribution event are held every year on December 10.

The city comes alive during November and is ready to receive guests from the world over. Shops, department stores and streets are decorated with balloons and colourful hoardings.

The winter is long and severe while the summer is brief. During winter, one can see in the north snow events. During mid-August in the north arctic circle, all winter the sun never shines but in summer during mid-May and mid-July, it never gets wholly dark at night.

Nevertheless, it is winter which finds favour with the Swedish. Hundreds of small and big lakes surrounding Stockholm are environmentally controlled, so much so that the water is considered fit for drinking. The region is full of dense forests, even clear water and clean surroundings. Liberal social benefits and freedom to use rightfully other people’s land temporarily without permission as per ancient custom make it a nature’s paradise. The total population of the country is less than that of New Delhi. Sweden is rich in iron ore and products like lead, zinc, tungsten, copper, silver and gold.

Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite, in 1895 established the Nobel Prize investment fund. The proceeds from this are distributed annually in the form of the Nobel Prize to those who contribute in the course of the year to the well-being of humanity, irrespective of nationality.

The five fields which Nobel wished to encourage were physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace (fraternity between people). Out of these, the first four prizes are selected by the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences while the Peace prize is selected by Norway and the prize distribution ceremony for this prize is held in Oslo on the same day and time as the one in Stockholm.

The annual Nobel Prize ceremony is held in the imposing Blue Room in the City Hall. The famous Golden Room is decorated with scenes from Stockholm’s history in gold mosaic using 19 million pieces of mosaic.

On top of the City Hall tower is seen the three-crown symbol of Sweden. While attending the Nobel Award ceremony in the Blue Room I witnessed the glitter and sanctity of the reading of the citation by the Secretary-General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences close to the imposing personality of King Carl Gustov, the XVI, of Sweden carrying the Royal mace in his hand.

Along with tourists, invitees for the Nobel prize award ceremony start coming during November as names of the prize winners are announced during October. They have enough time to enjoy visiting Vasa museum, Stockholm Opera House and the Royal gardens (Kungstrad Garden).

Stockholm was nominated the cultural capital of Europe in 1998. The scholarly king of Sweden is of simple habits. He is often seen going to the bibliotech (public library) on bicycle.

The Swedish Government takes an active interest in the well-being of the citizens. Sweden boasts of one of the best welfare systems in the world. Schools, hospitals and public services are very efficient. Before a child is born, the government organises nursing training for the couple and allows paid leave for both of them. Every building is equipped to allow access to wheelchairs while free home nursing care is provided to the sick and the disabled.

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