My impressions of Life

It was when we shifted to Agra Cantt. As father who was in Indian Air Force and posted at Sri Nagar ( J&K), was transferred from Sri Nagar in early 70’s . We were excited that we were shifting to a place which is world famous for one of Wonders of the World , The Taj Mahal . We never had been there. City had a magic spell on our minds. Lots of images were gushing through our minds ,How does it look like ? What is special about it?
Reaching there we got a warm reception from Uncle ,Who happened to be my father’s friend ,who was also in IAF and was living there for couple of years. Father had informed him about our arrival . Though it was simple but was nice thing to see. We got to know from our father that he was his school mate and belonged to a village near our native place in Distt. Hoshiarpur ,Punjab. We were glad to reach there. Father and uncle just loaded the luggage on a Auto and hired another one for us. Then we were taken to an Air force Colony , called 4 Area on the road leading from Agra to Fatehpur Sikiri.

As we reached there we got down and unloaded the luggage and we were guided to an accommodation where our Uncle was living . By the time we reached there it was bit dark in the evening. We could not make it where we have reached. Obviously we were unable to gauge the topography of the place. We were served with some tea and snacks. We enjoyed the snacks and we just slipped out with the children of our new uncle to have a stroll out. Parents warned us not to go too far. I found the place interesting, as the surrounding had a huge open space near the Block of Defence Quarters .It was having good green cover, and there was a small park for the kids of the colony, there were some swings and slides. However we did not get the chance to play there as the darkness grew more bolder. We returned back as we heard our mother calling at a distance. Dinner was ready and we were made to lineup on the mat on the floor. We got the dinner served ,we giggled while we ate as we found some favorite dish Kheer . Mom asked to stop stupid things and finish the meal. We were later guided to beds. We stared at the ceilings as it was something new for us to see. The roof of the Houses were made of asbestos . We were having some stupid ideas rushing our minds. Making some joking comments, like it is good place to make swings and play. Mother nagged us and asked to sleep quietly. We poor children had no other option but to pretend to sleep.

Next early morning , just at the fad end of the sleep ,I heard rooster’s wake-up call to the heavenly bodies , indication for them its time for new day. it was a pleasant day bright golden ball rose up from nowhere in the east presenting the world with new dawn. The morning activities started as usual birds rushing out of the nests ,people moving out for daily chores and activities. Uncle was reading to go for Duty very early. Father was also ready as he had to report to his office on joining at Agra.

However, we had some couple of days at our disposal for joining our new school. The things were moving in a slow pace. I got up early as the curiosity in my mind was not allowing me to prolong the inspection around the new abode. Just as a natural instinct in the children, they are difficult to hold on for a period of time. The feeling of etching constantly provoked me for exploring the geography of the area. I saw uncle's children were preparing for school. I was told that they were to catch the school bus. Their lunch boxes were being readied and my mom also helped my Aunt in serving the kids with break fast. We were asked to get our brushes and bath first. As I was moving out for washroom I saw that at the corner of the court yard there was a small poultry shed were I saw some Hen, Chicken and Rooster. I liked the sight as it interested me . I went near that and waited for a while .My mother insisted to quickly finish the bathing .I hurriedly made up .Breakfast was waiting for me .it contained fresh eggs omelets it was a delight for us.

Having my fill ,I moved out like a member of search party. I ventured out of the house. I found a kitchen garden where my Uncle had grown some vegetables. I simply inspected the garden and was busy for a while after I had done with the garden ‘s inspection ,I ventured out and saw a vintage car there . I had a close look at it. It amused me. It was a black colored “Austin” make It looked as if some royal family resided there. I could not make it who was the real owner. Days past I never took seriously about the ownership as the car never moved an inch during our stay at the house of my Uncle.

As days passed and after couple of months we got our own accommodation in that very vicinity. Just within couple of days we shifted to our own house which was not very far off from the Uncles house. After some six months or so when we had shifted to our house my uncle got his transfer to Amritsar IAF station. Now it was our turn to reciprocate with the friendly gesture. We got busy in helping Uncle’s family for packing of luggage. All arrangements were made for booking the luggage by Rail. It was a very lucky time for us we got so many things which Uncle had discarded as not to be carried to new place of posting. It was a treasure house for us. As my Father was his close friend he entrusted various responsibility for looking after the remaining luggage. May be father had some commitment for shifting the goods after some time. Indeed we did it all as planned. We were rewarded with some hens , some metallic furniture and a precious Gift “ The Vintage Car” too went in for our favour. We brought the items to our home but at that time the car was not brought . Something was disturbing which haunted our small minds , Mother and Father was having an argument on some issue, what we over heard was about the bringing of car to this new house. We were bit concerned why the car is not being brought here , we were imagining about having a jolly ride on it. I never knew about the fact that it was Uncle’s property. All sort of things flashed in our mind. Why was mother averse to bringing this prize catch home. It could be a Land mark and off course a matter of pride. In the colony.
( Black Beauty )

One day I dared to ask my mother about the story of the car. I was just told that this still belongs to my Uncle. Some how we managed to bring the car Home. Before that for a considerable time it was standing on Bricks in front of house of my Uncle, as was under repair. Actually it was a great precious collection of a senior 0fficer of IAF, who had handed over the keys to my Uncle for repair and keeping it for later sell out to some interested person having keen interest in Vintage car. My Uncle however could not refuse as the officer happened to be his commanding officer. Obviously he had already taken the price of it in advance The price tag is really confidential. My Uncle was Working as Mechanical Fitter in IAF. Since he had a Mechanical bent of mind so he was occupied in repair of vehicles officially . So he tried his hand in repair of the said car at home when ever he got some time. Now the onus fell on my father now. My Uncle had entrusted the responsibility to my father to take care of it. Father was too happy to find such activity. Slowly and gradually it became our hobby. We used to clean the car on Sundays and father used to open the workshop at home in our effort to keep the car in working condition . We would enjoy this activity. It was a great experience for myself ,my brother and Father. At times after quite a effort and hard work we used to hear the car engine start making some rumbling sound ,that would thrill us and fill our minds with new hopes to have a ride and tease our neighbors. It used to be a lucky day when we had opportunity to ride the car , that to after a lot of struggle . At times we all had to push the car for about 500 yards and still it failed to ignite. Slowly it became an embarrassment for our family. Still we did not discarded the hope. Father had consulted some professional Mechanic who advised to replace the battery. We did it and we were happy that the car moved and we had a happy ride of the whole colony. We children were sitting and enjoying the car. As if were Royal princes . The rides made us feel on the top of the world.

Father was happy about the fact that his efforts had borne fruit. The next Sunday we planned to visit Taj Mahal in this Royal Cab. Father agreed to the proposal. We made preparations for the royal journey. Dressed in the finest clothes we kept all the refreshments in the car. We thanked the car as it started the engine aou faces were cheerful as we were now about to have a ride to the Great monument Taj Mahal. As the car zoomed form Zero to 35 kms/hr speed it gave us a reason for smile after some travelling we happened to reach Agra fort and within minutes we were there at our destination.

How ever it was our third visit to The Taj , but it is very special thing about Taj every time you visit Taj it has its spell over your mind . The grandeur of the Taj never dies. Always there is new perspective , you enjoy it .

As we were children at that time even then it had a great impact over our hearts. Obviously it is a monument of Love , glorified eternal love. It had enchanting effect on the visitors ,Why should we feel bored over there it has a splendid ambience ,where all the lovers of the world (off course of soul, art and human being ) have an ambition to visit the monument and praise the beautified love in the form of Taj. So we never had an feeling of boredom. The Taj complex is a marvelous place to enjoy, and have photo Sessions. We had lot of fun . After spending the day in the lap of beautiful land mark and worlds greatest wonder . we set to return to our home. We loaded the belonging in the car. Father on the steering started the black beauty. Thanks it started to zoom. We were happy that our efforts and hardwork had paid rich dividends. After about one hour or so we were at our home satisfied.

Back home the scenario changed Father now had an new idea at the corner of his heart, he now was secretly planned to keep the Black Beauty with him. After consulting my Mother , he decided not to dispose off the Car of my Uncle. Rather he was planning to keep it himself for obvious reasons. It was a moment of tension as he took a decision. Mother however did not want that the Black Beauty should be retained. For a good number of weeks the issue was a bone of contention within my parents. Father was desperate as he genuinely wanted to help his old classmate , as he was now got transfer and it could be a big liability. However fathers spirited pleading prevailed. The Black Beauty was there to stay in our residence and will become our symbol of Royalty. Father had obviously made some sort of deal. Here I will not disclose “The deal” amount. But it certainly added to our assets. Next couple of weeks it performed well. We were happy to have ride off and on . After couple of months it remained parked in front of our house. Then some thing happened . one day father was ready to take the Black beauty to some place . He was dressed up well and he tried to start the engine but it was not to be. He repeatedly tried to start the engine. It behaved like a cold dead body. Father got impatient and started to abuse the car. We clearly saw the temper rise . He was so up set that in fit of anger he threw his shirt , changed the trouser . and had to don the mechanic’s uniform. After struggling and trying all the tricks under his belt the Black beauty refused to move. Just as it was so much of pressure that he was not successful in starting the engine and obviously in a fit of anger he could not apply his talent . At last he gave up. He was feeling so much up set that, we were feeling the heat. He then vowed to dispose off now.

Almost he spent about three four hours all in vain. Just when he declared that he should now quit. Suddenly while refixing the parts at the end of the day, he tried once again something unexpected happened the engine suddenly started. With a roaring sound seemed as if it was all OK . my father watched in surprise. Then he noticed some sparking in the bonnet underneath the engine. Some how it was a difficult place to reach as there is not much space under the belly of the car. As by the time the snag was detected the engine body was quite hot and it was difficult to fix the electrical fault then. Father decided to wait till one hour or so.

By the time Mom had prepared the lunch and was calling us . We decided to change the priority to fight the biggest of the problem of mankind the hunger . our hungry bellies were definitely taking the toll. The mind could not be focusing on the problem ,and the war broke between hunger and hungry for a moment we shut down the thinking process, On how to deal with the car.

Just as were had our fill ‘ Paet Puja “ we call it in usual casual conversation , we relaxed for some time. Father too had a short nap. After just hour and so Father got up and started with the “Operation Black Beauty” Like a true soldier he was engaged in his act. He examined the car bonnet to ascertain whether it was some serious problem , on close examination he detected some evidence that the .it appeared as if some rodents had done some mischief, in their process of sneaking under the car ,as it was usually stationed most of the time, had infact tried t o intrude or may be adventure was in their mind of rats is my wild guess.

Father found the cables were damaged by the intruders. Insulation was applied on the joint and again the effort was made to start the engine. The Black Beauty responded well. Father felt a sigh of relief. The hard labour paid off car was now in fine tuning. Father decided to have a ride. We all got excited for a joy ride. Just we quickly hopped in and within minutes we were on the road , going after about few kilometers on the NH father decided to have some ice cream and stopped at a ice cream kisok . It was a fun time but very unexpected.

After couple of months after My uncle had shifted out of Agra , returned in hope that the car might have been sold out by then. He found the lack beauty standing there gracefully , being identified as a land mark in the colony. We felt bit proud and boastful about the prized property. Uncle then inspected the car on his own and was quite happy that it was infact working. In the evening he proposed that we will go outing for the last time . probably was planning to quit the IAF job obviously for some family problems. We all were happy for a unexpected picnic in offering. Mom and Aunt started to make arrangements for the Sunday trip to Agra fort and Taj Mahal. Uncle was in the driving seat we al were seated in the rear. He took the black beauty on the busy Bazar of Agra. Obviously they had planned to have some shopping there. Just as Shopping ended he drove through the roads leading to Taj Mahal on the bank of Yamuna river.

After spending good time at Taj ,parents decided to see the Agra fort , there we were introduced to the place where Mugal Emperor Sahjahan , the builder of the most splendid monument of Love, Taj Mahal , he built in the sweet memory of his beloved wife , Mumtaz Begum ,was imprisoned by his own son Aurangazeb and was kept in Agra fort for the rest of his life. It was told that he was allowed to see the Taj from that special cell only once in the day that to through the mirror.

We enjoyed the visit very much. It was evening by then Sun was ready to get down from the skies making way for the waiting stars to take over. The trip was officially declared as complete. We jumped into the car and within few minutes we were heading to wards back home.

On the way uncle drove the Black Beauty over the road very confidently. Then suddenly some thing happened which was never expected. The car hit some rickshaw while we were passing through a narrow bazaar. Suddenly the engine stopped, however it was moving steady speed so nothing serious happened. Off course some damage was done to the rickshaw. Some how my Dad intervened and sorted out the matter with the rickshaw puller. We had some problem in starting the car. Father and uncle had to use their expertise and trade skills to re-start the car. We again set towards home, suddenly some thing again happened when some bicycle hit the car though it was dead slow because of market pace and crowd, Uncle had applied brakes and tried to honk the horn, but the horn did not work , uncle pulled out his neck out of the car window and shouted don’t you know there is a car. After using some hot words he checked out in fact the horn was not working.

Father than jokingly said, “I think we should buy some musical toy for the children so that we could warn the passer by”. This broke away the tense moments in the car, every one had a big laugh. The idea clicked and we were given toy trumpets and for the first time we were asked by our parents to blow them so that we could use them as horn for the Black Beauty. Thanks we reached home safe and sound.

Just a few days later , the Black Beauty had some guests . Actually they were vintage car lovers. They tried to crack a deal with my father , but by now father had developed some inclination to retain it for some couple of years. The visitors returned dejected. However they had made a offer. Since father was interested in keeping it . He in fact found some pleasure in repair and maintenance work we were happy too. Some couple of days later father again tried to start the car , but it refused to start. Father got furious. He again had to open the workshop kit . Mom got angry and shouted from the kitchen , “I was always against the keeping of this car, it is a problem for us. What is the use of it. ?” she asked my father. He had no answers but he too got agitated about the status of the car. He had cared about it , tried to up keep , regularly maintains it. Why this hell it is happening so? Confused he was, murmuring to himself. Again Mother was making some harsh comments while in kitchen- Saying , “you have wasted whole evenings and Sundays for this stupid thing, haven’t you ?” Its better you open a garage for motor car repair , you might earn some thing extra if you want. “What’s the use on trying to run a car which is almost a scrap, even a bull cart is good than this ” , she shouted. At this father got angry , and asked my mother to mind her business. The heated arguments were now taking a war like situation. We all felt the heat . Both the sides were not ready to let the issue die down.

Mom again said,” it would have been a good thing if you had sold it out to the person who came last time”. Father too realized his mistake, he then decided to get rid off it, As he murmured –“ its true ‘Chalti ka naam gaadi hota hai’.”

Now gradually, father had made up his mind to dispose off the Black Beauty. He planned to make a overhaul of the engine of the car for a final time. After a weeks time the car was fine, it started as if it had a new engine. Luckly, after about a month a person came enquiring about the car, may be father had sought help of some broker. He inspected the car and asked my father about the price, Father made some discussions and the person sought permission and left. Just a couple of days he came again with some other person. They had a trial run for few minutes and after some discussions with his companion came to my father and offered some money, but father did not accept it, he again tried to convince my father for a deal, but it was not happening. At last the other person had some talks with the prospective customer , and eventually he took out some more currency notes and asked my father to accept it. After a long deadlock , father asked some more, he then added some currency and handed it over to my father. Father accepted the money, he gave the documents of The ownership to the person . The new owner of the Black Beauty now saddled on the driving seat and took control of the steering wheel. As he turned the key the engine roared with a sweet sound and it started to move out slowly. And there it stopped to say good by to us, we were feeling sad , but it was to happen one day, This vintage car was really a memorable precious thing in our life.

We had our last glimpse , and slowly it went out of our sight. Mom had a sigh of relief. Father too felt relieved as the tension was mounted as he was not very sure of the Car whether it will perform or betray. Thanks it did work, and the new owner was quite happy with the deal. Mom asked father as to what was the deal ,Father said 2500/- , we were surprised at the deal, We jokingly asked really was it worth Rs.2500/- , even our scooter valued more . Father said thanks it worked otherwise it could remain with us for a couple of years and it could have reduced to Rs.200/- then. Its true its worth when it works, “Chalti ka hi naan Gaadi hota hai.” That means ( vehicle is worth only when it works.)

THE HOLY COW

2012-03-07T22:21:00.000-08:00

My Story

My Father had decided to return to native place and start with the ancestral occupation of Agriculture. Thus he put in his papers for Voluntary Retirement from Indian Air force well before the family was settled ,as we brothers were still in school .This decision of his was far from digestible to any one in the family. May be he was constantly under some pressure or probably was victim of some injustice , which he did not share even with my mother and decided to hang his uniform. He had made up his mind to quit the Indian Air Force job and stuck to his guns. What I know that He was not interested to continue as he got a transfer orders to some place in the South western station and it was not a family station. He got upset and in process he had decided to put in his papers. As that was the crucial time we children needed more financial allocations, being a time for college level studies. Every one in our family were very concerned about the future . But my father fought for his decision and had some valid reasons for his decision.

We had some ancestral property at our native place in Distt. Hoshiarpur. in Punjab (India). He had planning to go all out for farming . But things always do not happen as you desire. No doubt we had reasonably good land property , but it was a big problem for all of our family. We had been raised in cities like Kanpur ,Bangalore, Agra and Srinagar ,and we had no idea what can be done with the land and farming in traditional methods was ‘Greek’ to us. As we never did think that we might have to work in the farms or manage the agricultural activities. It was a totally new chapter in our life.

It is not the fact, that we hated the farming any way, the real concern is to do farming just as a casual time pass in kitchen garden is one thing, but to do it seriously to for livelihood or as a profession is something all to gather different . We had been doing the activities of kitchen garden in our backyards any where we lived in the cities where we got proper accommodation. That was just a hobby. Here, it was to manage the whole thing in a big way that too with out proper inputs and know how. This was a biggest challenge for our family. To meet the raising expenditure within pension of father was a wrong preposition. Any way , I was ready to share the responsibility with my father, so was my elder brother and mother. My sister was still a kid and she was not supposed to do any of the sort.

We were intricately planning the things , we had discussions with some of our relatives who were already in the farming business. We could gather certain tips from here and there .We had no infrastructure of our own at all . We slowly made consistent efforts to raise some of the facilities. Though we had a built house and land in the village, but some infrastructure was urgently required to be created. My mother was very hard working and resourceful . As some of our family friend suggested to first arrange for some cattle and make good the requirement of milk. Mother insisted to purchase one buffalo. That was the first asset we planned to organise. Soon , we had it . The destiny was waiting for the day, I think it was waiting to happen and things started to happen as per the script of fate .The agent ,who lived near our house in the village one day came to our house and he convinced my mother to buy a buffalo, he used his tacts and my mother was trapped in his jugglery of words. He had painted a bright picture before my mother, The buffalo was a good healthy and gives about 18 liters of milk daily . Which you can use as much as you can and sell the rest to generate income as well as feed and fodder for the cattle.

However, my father was not yet convinced and we had not even fully decided about the new venture As there was some wavering thoughts, to do or not to do. As simply keeping the cattle at home will not do , many other activities ,which are related to it are to be taken care off and we will have to do a lot of thinking and overwork, which we haven’t have even seen or done earlier in our lives.

We had to make some compulsory arrangements for the cattle , arranging for fodder , containers for storing the milk , we usually keep the pot boilers which are earthen pots we call them “ Kardhni” to keep the milk smearing , then the milk is made into curd and the next morning this curd is stirred and churned then butter is extracted from the butter milk . This butter milk is called ‘Lassi‘ in North India. It is a very popular and healthy drink in India.

My mother was more than convinced and was rather excited and eager to do something to sustain the family burden. She was mentally prepared for this ,as it was a opportunity for her to help out the family in crisis. The agent was also very proactive and smart he came in the early morning the very next day and knocked the door , my mother opened the door he greeted my mother and showed the buffalo to her , which he had brought along with him and had tied it out in our court yard. He had also brought some fodder and put it in front of the buffalo to keep it busy, otherwise the animal could get frightened and upset in the new environment. He showed the buffalo to my mother and explained some merits and positive features. The animal was looking fresh as it had been bathed and her horns and hoofs were well polished. Mother was quite impressed by the healthy and good looks of the animal, its nature was also very friendly. The animal was feeling bit upset and uneasy, my mother when inquired about it ,the agent said it is feeling upset in new environment. More over it is time to milk it .

He immediately asked my mother to bring jagary “GUR” and some wheat flour for the cattle. Mother immediately brought some “Gur” and flour “atta” in a container. He then asked to bring a container to milk the cattle, My mother than brought a container. He then asked to bring five rupees and some oil “ mustard” which he took the oil and poured it at the place where he had tied the cattle and bowed down to thank the mother nature.

This all activity was going on, when my father got out and inquired about the matter, the agent came to my father and congratulated him for the new cattle in the house. My father was surprised, he said , “ You should have at least consulted me , before bringing this animal to our house. ?”
“ This is not fair”.

Agent said – “ Sardar ji ,don’t worry I have brought this after careful investigation, believe me, You will remember me” .

He said -“ I promise if you are not satisfied I will take the animal back, it is a grantee.”

My father said – “How will we know about the quality of the animal”

The agent said - “Sardarji ,you just keep this for ten days ,I will take it back. You only pay me after ten days.”

He was knowing that he will get it as he was living in the same village and was more interested in building relationship and confidence. Our grand father was ‘Nambardar’ - (Chief of the village) , of the village and was prominently known in the area. In our family the agent was looking as a potential customer of future. Of course he was dead sure that my mother was interested in starting the dairy business. This fact was a encouraging factor to play his dice. My father had nothing to say. The agent had made his mark. He immediately took the container from my mother and started to milk the cattle. After some time he handed the container to my mother she was surprised to see about ten liters of milk. He then advised to my mother to make Kheer of the first milk and pray to God and "Thank" the almighty . The kheer is prepared by putting some rice and sugar in it, it is then allowed to boil for some time , She set aside some part to give it at holy place as an offering to be made to God.

My mother was so excited that she immediately arranged to prepare the’ Kheer’ . She prepared a ’Thali’ to give it to some holy man, who lived on the out skirts of our village. She then did her prayers and called us . When we got up and were surprised to see this new development. We were also excited at entry of the new member in our house. My mother was the happiest member in the family . We made rounds of the animal to see it we touched it and feel the friendly attitude of the animal. The buffalo too was feeling good and soon acclimatized herself. I then brought a bucket of water, she at once emptied the bucket, I brought another she consumed that too, I again brought third one she almost consumed it also and left just some water. I again brought another bucket and poured on her body ,the animal felt so passionate and soothing and nodded her head. I moved my hand on the back of the animal She looked at me as if acknowledging the gesture . It instantly created a bond with me. I was happy too.

The next thing my father did was to fix the responsibility of the agent himself, to assist in making suitable arrangement, Father asked him to arrange to buy some stubble ( Turi) and fodder for the time being till we could grow the fodder in our fields ,probably it required about two months to grow sufficient fodder.

The agent then made arrangement for daily cleaning of the area in court yard by engaging a lady ,who will be doing all the household work to assist my mother, removing cow-dung and make dung cakes. The next day we purchased the Shredder for fodder and installed it in one corner of the yard..It was a hand operated machine ,so we used to do the shredding of the fodder. It was a good physical exercise and I was quite healthy and able to do this type of physical chores.

Though it is more or less very hard work to do but I was inspired by the others who were doing it. I never felt insulted or mean any way as I honored the principles of dignity of labor. I was bit adventurous and keen observer , I being a quick learner , learnt things very soon . Slowly I got well conversant to the rural ways. The change was so quick that my parents were surprised . I used to tell them how the things are to be done. The relatives and friends were also amazed at my style of working, Even some of the villagers did not believe in me. They would say dear you have been very unlucky that you have been pushed to work like this. I used to laugh it out. I had committed my self to do and help my parents bail out of the hard times. I had curtailed all my unnecessary demands just to contribute my share in managing the Home affairs .

I chose to go to my school on bicycle instead of Bus .My school was about 10 kms. I did not mind to join an Punjab School Education Board 's school , affiliated Private public school ,instead of CBSE school ,where we brothers had our formal education ( rather I had no other choice left ). I was admitted to DAV high school . My brother was studying in Professional college and we had to manage that first .

Though, there was quite a lot difference in medium of instruction as well as system. It was definitely a setback to me but this was the destiny. I accepted it and did not grudge at all. My luck had failed to shine . The changed environment in the school did hamper my talent and aspirations a bit. I had now challenge to learn a new language Punjabi. To which I had not been exposed to. Doesn’t matter here from where I had done my matriculation and who had helped me in my new school to get better of the problems.

I was just narrating the situation as how we all became the victim of circumstance, though it all initiated with the resignation of my father from Indian Air Force .but it was all the handiwork of destiny, that we had to go through the squeeze. It is the fact unless you go through the worst situation you cannot learn things. The time and circumstances are the biggest teachers in life. Though we felt the squeeze and pressure of the situation but for that ,we happened to do what otherwise we might never had done it.

My father was the first to get the heat of the situation, He was constantly under pressure when his dreams dashed down to ground as he was expecting that he will be able to generate sufficient income from land holdings. It is always difficult for a person who had remained out of touch for a period of 30 years, to work in different conditions and in Agriculture sector specially. Agriculture sector is most unpredictable in terms of production and activity. The unfortunate thing in this sector is failure of crop due to rains, drought, thunder storm, disease . He felt that he had committed a blunder to have resigned at this crucial juncture. He felt guilty for forcing such crisis on the family members. It all reflected in his attitude and behavior while dealing with the day to day problems. The destiny played the trick . It had to happen and it happened.

I was also surprised at this fact. I also learnt the basics of agriculture while watching others do it, and would ask about the problems and reason their tips. I had a good interest in gardening earlier ,we had maintained a good kitchen garden at Agra and Bangalore where we lived for most of the years. So we had some hints at growing vegetables , but it was in micro level. To grow crops in fields was a different issue. We mustered courage and went on straight to our mission.

Our land was being used by our relatives we asked them to return to us so that we could start agricultural activity on it. However they refused to cooperate any way, as we were now becoming their rivals . The biggest problem that agriculturist faces is that of labor, the people who earlier worked with our relatives some how refused to work for us. May be under pressure or out of assumption that in case they will refuse to work we will be under pressure and we will offer to pay handsomely. It is a matter of nature that all you assume is not all you get. They refused to work for us and some one who was not with our relatives stepped in, we got support from unexpected quarters. We started with our operations.

Soon we bought a tractor, though it was not a good deal either, as we got into a trap of an agent that he knows about a tractor which is not presently working obviously because the owner is unable to use it due to financial crunch. My father was a technical man he discussed the matter with his friend who was once his colleague in Indian Air Force. Initially he was not in favor of the deal, but may be father showed inability to arrange for more funds to buy a good working model of the tractor. Father also got the tractor inspected by the mechanic , who gave the estimate for repair and overhauling which was about Rs.16,000/- ,This fund was too big in terms of the condition and material. The deal was done and after about two days the tractor was ready for joining our family and we had pinned our hope that it will be a boon for us and we could find our way to prosperity.

Now, our priority was to arrange for the Implements and accessories for the tractor , though we did get a few along with it but we had to spent another Rs.6000/- for these implements. For a few days we had a good trials in the fields , It was a wonderful machine with so much of power. We were able to plough through the fields, we were happy that at least we got a powerful companion to work in the fields and we will be able to compete our relatives and those who thought that we are their competitor . Our moral was high, we now took calculated risks, we started to grow crops as other farmers. We did get better out put from the land as now the crops fully owned by us would fetch us good earning. With god’s blessing we did manage to raise some savings after paying off the debts of the fertilizers and some which we had borrowed in course.

This was a moral booster we now had some dreams. As in home we had build up some good resources in terms of milk surplus capacity. This milk was now being sold to others to supplement the needs of the cattle and keep them healthy. Mean time mother bought another buffalo and the milk production doubled. We channelized the extra milk to Govt. Milk collection center, I used to carry the milk daily to the other village which was about 5 kms away. Though I was studying in Matriculation at that time. But ,one has to do these things in order to support the family. The most dependable person is the family member himself. That way ,it made me proud to be working for the assets of the family, and contributing in the hour of need.

That was a good time , we were able to manage the things well , One day again the agent who had sold two buffalos to us came to my mother and pleaded that if you think cow is holy animal, then kindly do a favor, mother was surprised at the matter. She asked him to explain properly what is the matter. He told one cow is to be sold to the butcher to be slaughtered as it has proved to be a liability for the owner, he had cared and fed the cow for about three years but it did not bear any off springs, it seems it is useless and has sold it . He is not in position to keep it furthest, no other person is ready to purchase it, I plead you please buy it . it will cost you nothing just Rs. 50/- ,he said we will take care and get some treatment from veterinary doctor and I bet it will soon be able to bear offsprings, It will bring prosperity in your house. It is a Jersey cow, These are very popular and are in great demand. My mother talked to my father, He was also of the view what will be the benefit for keeping it, we are very busy already and it will add up to our liabilities,, But the sentiments were there as in India we consider the cow as pious.

Next day the agent again turned up and virtually begged my mother for purchase the cow. Some how after some reluctance she agreed . When I came from school I was asked to accompany the agent to the other village where the cow was kept. With in half and hour we were there , The owner was given Rs.50/- and we brought the cow home. The cow was bit upset ,it looked terrified in the new surrounding and preferred to eat dry grass than to eat green fodder. We were puzzled , The agent came to see the cow , my mother asked him “it is strange that it only eats dry fodder and does not like green fodder”. He explained that the owner was a poor daily wager he could not afford to feed her properly ,that’s the problem with it , don’t worry we will manage it. He even brought some sort of weeds and medicines which usually the rural people give to their cattle to keep them healthy . Slowly the cow got confidence and mingled with the other cattle.

Just like that about more than one year passed , The cow did not bear offspring or never developed any sign of “Heat” , (a period when the menstrual cycle is on the peak ,when the animal if ready to conceive ). It was a matter of concern now, we got treatment from couple of vat nary doctors but of no avail.. Mother was worried as what to do with the cow.

Mean time the graph chart of our finances got a severe blow.. The very next year we were tumbling down on every front, The crops failed and we had a very hard time. That year the rains were unprecedented and unexpectedly in the time of harvest of wheat in the month of may. It was like a storm with rain with hail it just lay us bare , the crops were cut and were ready to thrash .we had piles upwards the thrashing had just started , We were waiting for our turn for thrashing machine was busy else where. the delay in thrashing was due non availability of thrasher and labor. The labor were engaged in cutting the standing crops, that is the priority at that moment. We did not had the mechanical thrasher of our own then . We had booked it and we were to get it only two days after. Suddenly a big storm arrived up- rooting the bundles of cut wheat which were stacked at one place. Along with it came the torrential rain and hail . The rain was so intense that it caused water logging in fields , the rain continued for about one hour. This spelled the doom on the farmers in the area. Most of them who had cut the crops like us were humbled to earth.

Next day a sort of rescue operation started , we engaged in collecting the scattered twigs from the lost harvest with a hope to find if some thing is left by nature for us. It was difficult to bear the onslaught of the natures fury. We mustered some courage and started to move the bundles of wheat crops which were dripping with rain water. We then gathered the bundles at a comparatively high land and lay them at some distance, untied them in order to spread it gently so that they get dry with sun heat. Next day the sun was shining bright, the earth some what had dried , so we again spread the bundles open to dry them. In the evening we had to tie them again. It took us about five days to make the crop totally fit for thrashing. In this process we lost about 75%grains. The 60% grain was damaged on the first hit of rain and hails ,rest we lost while spreading and gathering repeatedly. Most of the grains had sprouted and rest was lying in mud.

This was a herculean task, we had to do the thrashing even knowing the yield is just 20% left. It also proved very costly to us.

Next came the season for growing paddy. It is the time the tractor becomes handy. As we started preparing for the next sowing, we got a huge blow, the tractor while working in fields broke down for two days we could not do any thing, and it had to be in the fields. We called up the mechanic ,who inspected the engine and said it is a major break down the crank had been damaged. The sowing season was in full swing, we had to pull it out from the paddy fields . The tractor was sent in workshop it took about week for repair. Mean time the crops sowing was delayed, it cannot be managed with borrowed machinery.

More worse situation was in store for us .There was no sign of rain ,though it was the rainy season. We had to press in diesel Pumping sets for maintaining the water level for growing paddy. The diesel became a scarce , the availability was a problem. We were made fools by the patrol pump owners. I was mostly deputed to arrange diesel for pumping sets. We had a drum keep near by and were standing in queue. The whole day we had to run from one patrol pump to another as the rumors spread that a tanker arrived at the so and so patrol pump. We needed some Recommendations from “influential persons” , often we had to purchase on “premium” . It had become a routine exercise for me as without the diesel we could end-up miserable as the crop would have perished. So we had burnt up our pockets and drained our sweat for the sake of standing crops as these were our sole hopes .We were more frightened by the mounting bank loans and drained savings.

Next worst thing happened , the Diesel engines used in the pumping set started giving problems one after the other. One leg was at one site the other was at the other site where the other pumping set was working. The circumstances are the biggest teachers the situation made us learn about repair work of these engines, which other wise we were novice in the field , we worked by hit and trial methods and we started using some local gimmicks ,also we made experiments to keep the engines running. Even when our all manpower were busy I and my brother was working in fields to supplement the manpower. We need to see the water supply, arranging food and tea for the labourers . The Electricity was a joke at that time, it came only to show that it exists, situation was not better than now a days ,the electric motors were not working most of the time. Mostly electric supply to Pumps were supplied at odd hours in night, we had to either sleep near the tube well or go there in dark. Moving in night in dark places during rainy season is very dangerous. At times we would encounter snakes or some scorpions.

That was the most hard times we faced ,all our dreams, hopes and calculations faltered , We had a house hold servant form Bihar he was with us for two years and had a good relations with the daily wagers ,whom we engaged as and when required and was conversant with the work in our house. He was very good and cooperative, unfortunately his mother expired he got a letter , we felt very sorry, we asked him if you want to go for a month you may go . He went to his native place ,we gave him his due money even some extra money ,he promised to return within a month . This was the most busiest July month in agriculture sector. The paddy crops are to betaken care of . it require regular watering the fields. I was now overloaded with the farm activity. in addition to the work of the servant , as alternative arrangements could not be made . I had to fetch fodder from the fields chop them and look after the cattle the strength of the cattle heads was about 5 including 2 young ones. So it was becoming very impossible for me to manage them. I was now forcing to sell the cow , which was useless and was now a burden.

I even called the agent who had bought the cow for us , to arrange for the customer.

He again starting pleaded to my father ,let us wait for some more time , He said my heart says cow will conceive. He was right, just about a month passed, the cow behaved in uneasy way , it was making sounds as if she was under some stress, We thought it was having some problem of indigestion, we gave some mixture of salt and weeds, next day also the situation did not improved , I took her to the vat nary hospital. The doctor investigated and suggested that the animal is in heat and insemination was done. As the luck would have it cow conceived. Later after few months she gave birth to a female –calf.

The calf was very cute and healthy. The cow now used to give about 14 liters milk in a day. One day the calf was taken to hospital to get its horns dismembered. In this process red hot iron bars are pressed over the spot where the horns start developing. The calf was only one months old. Accidently, the calf hit the effected area with its hoof, as it was some what irritating, unfortunately the wound opened and bleeding started profusely. we had to take remedial measures and a bandage was tied to the calf’s head. We gave some sedative medicine to it as prescribed by vat nary doctor. We were concerned how to feed it, We took all precaution so that bleeding does not start again. In night we thought to bring the calf in side the room where I was sleeping since it was winter and the calf was required to be kept warm. I tied the calf to my bed, and kept eye on it. Just when it lay calmly I took a nap may be for a hour or so, when I got up I was pained to see the blood oozing out of the calf’s head, The room was full of blood, I called my father , We both struggled to stop the bleeding We tied more bandages It was a pity, the calf lay motionless, , its eyes bulging out, .it made us feel guilty , as why did we tried to dismember the horns, our family was disturbed and we all started to pray to god. To forgive us . My mother felt restless and started to weep. It was a moving situation. Though I was suffering from Asthma but I still manage to do the necessary things as it was a crucial time and matter was of life and death. Nothing happened we had lost all hope . we were disturbed and disappointed ,we regretted to have got the dismembering of the horns of the calf.

As the heavens desired ,at about 8.am , when we all were sitting out and doing the morning cores giving fodder and water to rest of the cattle, the servant was cleaning the shed of cow dung I was feeling the need of medicine due to squeezing effect of Asthma ,therefore I came in my room. I took my medicine and lay in my bed for relief from a bout of cough .

At first I did not notice any unusual thing happening. After some time I saw some movement in the ‘corpse’ of the calf which lay covered near my bed, as we were waiting for our servant to come and carry it out for disposal , I was astonished to see the calf nodding its head and was trying to stand up, out of the cover, but was unable to do so. Probably ,the calf was feeling severe weakness due to massive blood loss. I immediately removed the cover and saw the calf was alive . I jumped with joy and I caressed the calf. I loudly called my mother ,who rushed in my room thinking I was having some problem, she also called up my father to rush in. As all stood astonished at the miracle . My Mother Thanked God for giving new leash of life to a innocent animal. She started praying and was very happy, on the other hand the cow ,the mother of the calf had spent a restless night and was feeling very tense. She was not aware of what had transpired whole night. The cow was not able to eat any thing she was waiting for her child , who was oscillating between of Death and Life. We had felt the heat of Death probably her heart was also apprehensive of any unusual activity, that’s why the calf was not seen any where. To all my intuition she might be also praying for the life and safety of her child. It can be said that the prayer of a mother was accepted and life was rein stilled by the God . The cow had bore the stigma of being unable to bear the off-springs.

Any how her motherhood was saved. We took all care of the calf , put some bandage on the head of the calf and brought near the cow, she licked the calf for moment and felt the touch of the her child . I saw the numbness in her eyes and the excitement on seeing her calf alive. After feeding the calf we tied it near the cow and she was feeling the tension of separation. The cow then after some time felt the need of feed ,she started to eat we got a tremendous relief .

Within few days we saw the cow behaved normal and the calf was healthy and fine. The cow started to give about 12 liters of milk. Most of the milk was sold in the Milk collection centre ,generating some valuable income to support our studies and other family requirements. This was like a God’s gift to us.

Gradually in six years she bore five female calf’s and these calf’s when grew up for bearing their off-springs we sold three young grown up calf’s cows when they were about three years old and got good rates. How ever we retained the very first calf and she too bore two female calf’s . The cow we originally brought for fifty rupees had repaid her debt . Rather had repaid many folds ,had done the best for contributing in our family assets and saving the family from worst conditions in the struggling times. For our family she was a ‘Holy Cow’ or we may say “Gau Mata” The Cow had the right to live with us and we vowed to keep her all the life she had even after she became old. Obviously she was a ‘Holy Cow’. She ad helped us to raise the assets and generate earning.

2011-11-07T03:53:00.000-08:00

MY FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL

I was sent to school at the age of 5 yrs , it was the year 1965, I remember, the day. Obviously it is most haunting in everyone’s life . It was like any other day, but , I had a strange feeling of fear in my mind, since the morning, as I was being dressed up by my mother with love and care .It is the day parents are very excited and optimistic . Many odd things rushing through my little ‘grey matter’ ,and my tiny heart was pulsating with a rapid pace , that,like a racing machine ,which had to over work to keep the brain working. But, a feeling of something strange likely to happen, overtook my cheerful face. I felt the sensation of sinking .It was obvious because, I was a free bird all these years of my early childhood now the seeming danger of being tamed, overtook my innocent mind . Also, I had enjoyed the childhood in real terms, that way due to the old education system prevailing then ,we the kids of yester years were bit lucky as compared to the kids in the present age who are being denied the right to childhood so early as below one year of age.

{ Now a days the trend is so dangerous, that even child of one and half year is not spared , he is sent to some creche or child care center, which are never- the- less turning into exploiting dens and the childhood of the kids are being ruined. They are really very unsafe and dangerous. Mostly the working parents are compelled to send their kids to these care centers ,as they have no other alternative. They are almost under house arrest, more dangerous things which is catching up , it is also being reported that, many of babysitters are culprits for using drugs to keep the child calm or asleep, obviously it is a relatively difficult thing to handle them if they are not sleeping , the best way to handle the kids at that tender age is to keep them in the lap of asleep . The child when is given regular dose of certain drug becomes addicted to and cause serious damage to the psyche of the child . It almost ruins the life of the child . }

So tense I was, that, I tightly held the finger of my mother as if I was drowning in the deep water, I was on the verge of crying. The moment the sentence was pronounced by the Principal Madam , that, “ Congratulations Kid ! You have been admitted to the school” , I almost sunk , I felt like a person who has been sentenced for life to jail .

{My only fault was that , I had born in a world which is stressing , dictating and crazy to obtain the ‘Paper’ degrees from the educational shops, created by the so called Education system of India , rather than to be human beings or learn about other worldly things .It is more interesting that now we have provision of securing the certificates or degrees without even attending the classes , it is so simple ,if you have money power to bribe the officials or contact any Private institution ,they have institutionalized the Unfair means . Thanks to deteriorating Indian Education system ,where Govt. has given unlimited liberty to the institutions without any accountability. }.

The earth beneath my feet seemed to be trembling like tremors of the earthquake .My parents just supported the statement of the Principal. They thanked the Principal for the decision in favor of their child. They even congratulated me by patting my back gently. I saw a sign of relief on the face of my Father who looked a little bit tense ,just few moments earlier . This fact I experienced when I myself as a parent, took my sons for admission to the schools. Naturally , the parents are bit nervous and shaky When there is a issue of about the future of their kids getting admission in a school of their preference, They were indeed worried about the question- “Will their child (myself) get admission in this Central School ?” Probably ,because we belonged to North India and the best option for us at that stage was to join Central School , which are now better known as Kendryia Vidyalyas, which have almost standard pattern and syllabus of Education all over India. In case I had to be admitted to some other local school over there , I could have faced some different problem all to gather - in medium of instruction ,also I had to learn Kannada, the state language in addition. I want to mention that the knowledge of language apart from that of Mother tongue ‘Punjabi’ , National Language- Hindi ,English, the International Language and then learning ‘Kannada’ as additional language of Instruction , beside other regular subjects , would have turned me Jack of all languages and master of none. I would have turned to be a perfect “Khhichri “. Speaking the languages and understanding is okay for socializing , but learning these for Exams as a full subject , is bit difficult , It is irony that in India we enforce so much restrictions on citizens that, we have divided the nation on the basis of language , then we have divided the streets and cities on the basis of religion . .

#@$@%@%3 !!! - { I wonder why there is stress on so many languages in India , where as only one is sufficient for a man to communicate with the other components of society . It is probably the characteristic of man to eulogize himself or his clan and enforce it on those who are subdued

Have we ever benefited out of these foolish dictates of the Crazy lot ? Is it any way the sign of development of human race? Is it maturity or act of civilized society ,to fight ,hurt or slaughter others for the sake of forcing the barriers of language?

As in various schools ‘Sanskrit’ is also taught. This Sanskrit is told to be the original language the man had developed., and all the other languages have been born out of it. This is also taught as a additional subject or optional subject. Probably my brain would have been a confused stuff , like a half baked cake under that conditions.

Actually, It is very interesting to communicate with the person , in his mother tongue,who have different Mother tongue . It almost changes the attitude of the person with whom you are communicating. It is like presenting him with a bouquet.it is touching gesture. }

!!!! …. { Question is , that I never hate to speak or socialize with people of any race, languages or religion , but certainly people in this country do make it a big issue. May be I could be wrong , rather I pray my observation may prove wrong. The intensity of hatred is so much , that ‘some’ semi literate people in the south generally do not prefer to talk to person speaking Hindi , as if the Hindi speaking people are ‘alien’ , you should either speak their Mother tongue or English. This, I have failed to understand the logic. You Love to speak Foreign Language but disrespect the National Language , this has been rather ,reported by many of my friends who happened to visit there. Which I had earlier rejected it as incorrect. It could be due to language politics and their own perception to show that, they are dedicated to their language, or they are resisting the dominance of Aryans race in the North ,some centuries ago ( A historical fact}. They might be preferring to keep distance as being Dravidians . Often it leads to crisis of ego , we have witnessed the frenzy culminating into a full blown riots many of times . Occasionally we even have a dip in the blood soaked pools of hatred or false ego. The violent acts being enacted under the directions of mischief mongers or pleaders. Learning other language in not a wrong thing but the tag of hatred towards other language is the main deterrent . To it has become a agenda in Power politics too.}

Thank God ! , I got admission in Central school and that reduced the problem in hand.But the problem still churning in my mind ,was ,- “ what is the hell thing called school?” I had only some vague ideas about the school, because my brother had been going to school. What ever he used to tell to Mom, I used to hear with caution. But at times he would narrate the tale of sorrows ,that he got punishment for this , that and some times for nothing. I had strange ideas gushing in my mind . I looked around I saw no known person in the school except my parents. They too were behaving strangely with me. They were eager to dump me there at the mercy of the School teachers. I was shaken by this scene and wondered why the parents are so cruel?

The Principal , though was very good looking lady speaking with confidence , stylishly and fluently in English. I could not get the idea what was she saying to the other lady she had called up in her office. I was apprehending that certainly something tangy is being cooked .Then she introduced her to my parents. I still do not remember what transpired between them. My brain had stopped functioning as if it was now switched off.

Moments after my mother handed a piece of candy and promised she will bring more in the afternoon. In fact that was a booby trap for my. I was lured to go with the Lady in the office. I was so tense and disturbed that I did not even dared to look at the face of the lady.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. In fact, I was habitual of being a free bird , I never had any restrictions. I was handed over like a sold out property now. I felt the pinch of separations though it was a tradition for all the kids to pass through this trauma in their life, and this tradition is centuries old. I was on one side cursing every one. However I did not realise at that time, that ,it is a great lesson for all of us . Which everyone has to face the realities of separation from parents, loved ones, friends, beloved and of course by the parents too in the melting evenings of their life, when they need them the most . Even ‘That ‘ was my first lesson in the school that day . Certainly this lesson of separation has given me strength to bear the separation of my Parents ,when they are gone for ever to the Eternal abode. Also, I have bore the pang of Separation during sending my own children out of home for studies.

Any how, at that time , I felt like a lamb being dragged by the butcher to the slaughter house, as the lady who had been instructed by the Principal to take 'me' along with her, was taking me with her . I looked back towards my parents with a saggy face and sobbing silently. To my surprise , my parents were happy and waving hands at me, congratulating me on my entry to school. In fact they were trying to cheer me up, like crowd waving , when Sachin Tendulkar comes in to bat in the ground in a match. There was a difference of opinion between me and my parents. We had different perspectives and objectives. It was sure the parents had won the war and I had become a defeated person for a moment. I was thinking why parents are not able to understand my problems , at the same time the parents were feeling elated as they had succeeded in securing admission for me in a good school of their choice.

In fact the lady who was taking me through the corridor of the school on the very first day at school , was very polite and very friendly, she was in fact the Class Teacher of the class to which I was admitted ,she rather tried to console me and cheer me up. She tried to instill the confidence in me and asked few questions regarding me and my parents, to which I replied in a non confident manner by just nodding my head,like a stupid kid . I was rather feeling very insecure at that moment. I was all of sudden pushed in the company of totally unknown people. I failed to know what to do. I simply had no option left ,but to follow the teacher in a reluctant manner . Keeping my head down and half sobbing and half crying ,thinking of the next situation to come.

Just walking few steps in the corridor I was taken into a a Tent., I was surprised about the situation. I thought it is sort of Army tent. But I had never been inside of this tent. It was first such strange situation I saw, there about thirty odd students were sitting there on the benches and tables. Obviously it was a makeshift classroom .

The teacher introduced me to the Class, and announced the Kids to welcome their new class mate mr.---------- . Every body clapped their hands . I was made to sit with a kid, who was good looking. As I was bit nervous and shaky, he made the first move to make me feel comfortable with a broad smile. This first smile infatuated me I was now feeling in a friendly atmosphere much to my satisfaction and against the apprehensions’ I was brooding in my mind. My confidence showed its signs of building up , I dared to meet my eyes with his ,with a bit of changed mood, He again smiled, then he offered his hand for a friendly contact. I reciprocated. The whole world changed I and he were now friends. In the recess break ,he took me to the place where children were playing ,then we moved on to the water tap to have some water. He took out his Tiffin and offered me his Tiffin. I said I have mine. He said let us share our Tiffin’s. I agreed and we then shared the Tiffin. He had brought some snacks and I had ‘prathas’. I liked the bread toast he was having. As we sat under the tree we talked about ourselves.

Just then my elder brother who was studying in the same school was three classes senior to me, came searching in our class room, but not finding me there he inquired from other children ,when some of them guided him where I and my new friend were sitting and having lunch. My brother asked about my well being. The new friend asked him are you his brother?

“Yes “ my brother replied.

My brother asked him his name, He said ,”My name is Rajan”.

My Brother said ,” Well , it seems you have made my brother your friend , thanks.”

“ Do you have any problem ?” my brother asked me, I said , “ No”.

“Ok then enjoy your First day at school with your new friends.”

Then the bell rang and we all rushed to the class rooms. As the ringing of the bell signaling for the change of period, we,I and Rajan, just talked about the next thing to happen in a hushed tone , He would tell me about the next teacher to come and the subject we will be taught by that teacher, who comes at the ringing of the period bell.

I best enjoyed in the period of poetry and drawing . As I was best at the both. My friend Rajan was very helpful in building of my confidence. As the time passed and the day activity came to the end, Rajan informed that this is the last period and we will be going home after the period of GK. I was happy that the day was a nice one as compared to the anticipations I had made in my mind.

I was pleased to find at least two persons who had motivated me and made my day. I, in my heart thanked my Class teacher and Rajan. I still remember that day, and will remain fresh in my memory till my memory fails me..

The process of my education proceeded and I acclimatized my self to the daily school going activity. This had really changed my attitude.

The Aircrash.

2011-06-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

My story - VI

We were living in Agra at that time , it was probably the year 1970 . We the kids were plying in front of our quarter (accommodation ) provided by The Defence Department to my father who was in Indian Air force (IAF) It was sunny day in the winters. It was a holiday as we were having fun playing “Kabaddi”. The street boys from the block of quarters in the colony had gathered in front of our lawn ,rather it was common place where we kids used to play and in the evening we used to sit together after the games to share the latest info or some mini stories or sweet and sour experiences. Just at a few yards away from our playground ,our mothers and women of the block used to gather. Just at some distance from two groups another group used to occupy a space in the lawn where our fathers use to hold there conference. It was the time when the TV technology had not entered our our veins and had started showing the impact on social fabric. Rather, TV had not even entered common peoples homes. People had a good past time to share their thoughts and experiences and were very cooperative. Unlike now days people have no time for social relations ,even for their parents and kids, they remain glued to the TV like addicts.
Earlier, there was a large vacant place in front of the block across the road, which we used to wonder why was it as kept vacant. There was wild growth bushes, from where some of the reptile species used to appear and we kids were happy chasing them to their dens. It was a fun playing in that area. Though it was inhabitated by the birds like quail , bulbuls, woodpeckers and some other reptiles like chameleons few snakes of course . We witnessed a market complex come up right in front of our residence, ours was a corner house. We had ample space for organizing kitchen garden. I love gardening , and it is still my passion to be in the lap of nature. I later in the life had a quite good experience of working in our paternal farms at my native place at village in District Hoshiarpur ,Punjab, in India.
While we grew up playing hide and seek in that area. We witnessed the opening of a sweet shop in that new market. I remember that we used to go to the shop to buy some snacks , Samosa ( Indian snack) and Rasgullas ( Sweetmeat) Or at times all family had a treat of Puris – Channa in breakfast on Sundays. The evenings were many a times made very pleasant, when our team used to win the game of Kabbadi and we were provided by hot Samosas as incentive for winning the game. We used to have a additional bout of game in the morning session only on holidays.
That day we had a good fun and exhaustive game. All the members of both the teams had toiled hard. We were taking the time out. I was asked to bring some water from the home. I went inside to bring a jug full of water. My elder brother asked me to again go home and bring more water and some glass tumblers. As all had finished with the water break and were relaxing for a while. It was about 11 AM ,when I had gone for keeping of the jug and glasses inside my home. Mom asked me to stop playing now and do some studies. She also instructed to convey the message to my elder brother. I came out of my house and was heading to wards the place where my team mates were sitting. I heard a strange sound in the sky. I raised my head to see in the sky , it was a terrible sight. I saw a Indian Air Force fighter jet flying at a very low height , it was so low that one could even view the Pilot very clearly maneuvering the flight. Probably he was struggling hard ,As a last ditch effort to save the plane from crashing into a populated area. It was few hundred feet away from the ground.
I was stunned at the sight of the plane flying so low. I was speechless for few moments . At first it looked as a special sortie a part of exercise to fly so low and move in that way to avoid detection by enemy radar. As such sort of exercise was a routine affair. However we had seen hundreds of fighter planes flying through the skies. Even we had witnessed the awesome fly past during Air Force days and even exercise of Dog fight in the sky . But it was certainly not the sight we had ever witnessed. The planes movement and sound was some different ,I shouted that some thing was wrong with the plane. Every one sitting in the ground started looking up at the plane. The plane was releasing black smoke, this was not a usual sight to see.
Every one was spell bound at the maneuvering of the plane . As we watched the plane movement in the sky, The plane was now suddenly going up from the earlier level . It was the far sight-ness , commitment and great courage that he was still in control of the falling jet. He took a plunge in the sky as far as he could and after he was sure that there is ample space ahead of the plane , clearing out of the populated area , The pilot bailed out ,we saw the parachute opening and come down at a distance. All happened in front of our eyes, just as the pilot jumped out to safety the plane crashed just few hundred meters away from the colony. We saw the plane turn into a fire ball and dangerously falling down to the earth. We all were horror struck. Every one standing there who saw the plane go in flames just shouted ‘Oh ! God’. We just prayed that this happen in a vacant place and every one be safe.
Soon the news spread like wild fire in the colony , there was sign of interrogation on everybody’s face. We could not make it out as to where the actual place of plane crash could be. Suddenly some of the elder boys of our neighborhood suggested , “let us go and see at the sight”. So few of us planned to go to the site. I and my brother informed our mother that we are going to the site of air crash. At first my mother rejected the proposal , but as we requested to allow us because some of the boys of our neighbor hood are also going. She allowed us with a condition that we will keep safe distance. We had promised that we just want to see the crashed plane.
We started our journey on bicycles. We were about 7 boys and we had 4 bicycles. It was like an expedition to go on such a mission . After moving for about 10 minutes on the inner road of the colony , we had to turn to the link road leading to the village after moving ahead for about 1500 yards from our colony , interior of the National highway , where the flames and the thick black smoke was seen raising high in the fields. There were other people the onlookers who were making a beeline to the site. The whole route was jammed by the rush of people descending on to the site. The curiosity was looming high in our minds.
We saw the Civil Police jeeps and Military Police trucks rushing towards the site. There was loud sound of horns and sirens of the Police and Defence vehicles . Just while we were heading towards the crash site we also saw two fire brigade vans rushing to wards the site in high speed , probably they were from the city fire station. Their warning bells ringing alerting all the traffic seeking clearance of the road ahead . So we also moved away off the road. We knew that they need to reach fast and urgently , however we could wait a moment. At a distance near the village where the crash had taken place , some of the police personal were deputed to control the crowd and guide the people . They were blowing the whistles and guiding the military and police personal. As we reached near the village we asked him about the way to reach the site.
My friend asked him – “ Uncle ! where is the crash site.?”
“ Hello ! what do you kids want to do there ?” he shouted.
“ sir, we just want to see the site. ?”
“ What hell do you think it is a game ? It is no jugglery, you better go home ? ” he said.
“ We just want to see the crash spot.” said my friend.
“You kids have no business over there .”
We just are curious about the incident.
“You people will only add up to the crowd and any thing could happen .
I wonder why your parents have let you come here , to add to the
crowd” He said with grudge.
“We will keep distance sir , don’t you worry, Thanks”
“Better you return home , its not a child’s play … go home”
He started signaling us to go back and whistling to the people who were moving towards the village.
We were determined to reach the spot and become the first witness to the air crash in our families. By all means it was a great feat. So we dodged the police man and moved fast on our bicycles towards the site along with the crowd . just after moving about in the village lanes which were dusky and slit of the drains and domestic waste water from the houses in the streets which was stagnated emitting foul smell. Somehow the people were passing through the lanes unmindful of the material lying there, As they had not come for the inspection of the rural area. People living in rural areas are used to such situations . People make improvised things where water was stagnated in the villages roads. There we saw at a place a broken sewerage pipe and a wooden plank was used to make a bridge . Rather it is our privilege in India, to see these things and change our habits according to needs . We need not bother of these things as they pertain to village Punchayat and Rural development Department. True to this spirit we all passed off the area only just cursing the system .
We also moved ahead along with the crowd and soon we were in front of the site which was smoldering by the fire erupted due to the crash. However the site was in front of us but still it was about 800 yards away from the cluster of houses of the village in the fields. Thanks the village had a providential escape. There was a huge crowd of men women and children all onlookers , some standing on the roof tops some climbed the trees to have a good view of the site. We even saw police struggling to keep the crowd at a safe distance. We saw at least four fire brigade trucks and score of the firefighter volunteers managing the affair. They were handling the fire fighting hoses and spraying the water at least four places. Even at one side the villagers were asked to help the firefighting ,they had started a tube well and water was taken to the site where the plane had hit the ground, the straw stash had caught fire and was almost half gutted There was danger that the fire might catch on with other two standing stashes which were only few feet away from that which had caught fire. The villagers started to throw mud and water over it to extinguish the fire.
The Military police men were also helping them to evacuate the people who were caught unaware . As we moved closer to have a clear view of the crashed fighter plane. We saw that some of the police personal and fire fighter volunteers were dousing some object with the water . The were trying to carry some thing which was charred. On inquiring about the mystery we were told that unfortunately the two people who were working in the fields were trapped in the fire that started by the crashed airplane , The onlooker said the police is trying to removed the charred remains of the victims. As we inspected the whole site , we saw that the plane had hit the ground and broke into pieces ,and since the plane was moving in great speed it dragged the main portion of the fuselage and wings about 400 yards away towards other side of the village. The whole area which was affected by the debris and mangled remains of the plane all lied scattered in the strip of 200 yards long and 100 yards wide. As if it was a road . The affected area was giving a horrified view, the crops was totally burnt as the fuel of the plane triggered the fire it was emitting strong stent of burning of flesh , straw and fuel.
The miracle that happened was that just where the plane fell many lives were left untouched and had a close brush with death. Had the plane crashed some 15 yards ahead it would have been a great loss to human life. There were at least 10 -15 persons working in field adjacent to the place the plane first hit the ground . Thank god, they were only terrified at the narrow escape and was not even injured in this incident. They were so shocked that unable to believe that they were alive for some minutes. Obviously they had a close shave. Fate had just favored them , They witnessed the death of other persons just few yards away. They were helpless to pull out the victims , They were seen virtually roasted when the fire had engulfed the area where they were working. The impact and effect was so intense and quick that within second everything was finished. The sight was so pain full and horrified that the people were weeping inconsolably. It was a great tragedy indeed , as the village people had lost a couple of precious lives in front of their eyes ,that too without any fault of theirs , No body would have thought in the wildest of dreams even, that death occurring to them from the skies and it was terrible site to see for us too . The sight had engraved the event on my minds ,memories keep haunting when ever there is a air crash. This stirr-up the tragic feelings in my innocent heart. I started to feel very bad ,really that night I was unable to take off my mind from the scene.
At the site of the crash we saw scattered pieces of the plane the wheels wings rudder ,fuselage, parts of cockpit all spread in the area which was totally engulfed in the fire triggered by the spilling of fuel and high temperature due to friction. The scene was so confusing that one could not gauge what went wrong to the plane which went down and caused the tragedy. It could be the right decision of the pilot who took the plane to certain height risking his life as the plane while gaining height had turned into a fireball , that made the difference. When he bailed out, the plane was at about few thousand feet high. Considering it to crash at the spot safe and away from the village . He might have not even thought that still the crashing plane would kill some person. Just after the crash the pilot had dropped at about distance of 500 yards away from the site. Air Force personnel had immediately reached along with the ambulance, They shifted the pilot who was injured, to the Hospital. When we had reached there the higher authorities were available at the site they were busy inspecting the site and collecting the evidence and material which was required to investigate the reason of the crash. The Team was seen picking up the ‘black box’ of the plane. It is the instrument which contains vital evidence in any crash. Actually, my father being in Air Force ,told us that this part is so important that the minutest development and track record of the flight is recorded , The pilots conversation with the flying control ,with which he is constantly in touch during the flight is automatically recorded. This instrument is totally fire, water and shock proof.
We then returned back to our homes with a sad feeling . This incident can never be erased from my mind. I still see the gloomy sight which happened before my eyes about 40 years ago. I my self not even had dreamed of writing about the air crash at that time. Probably all the other persons who were with me at the site might have forgot about the sight. My feelings and observations are so intense that usually I cannot forget the incidents easily. But look the change in time and technology which has enabled us to share our experiences and feelings with those who are totally unknown.
Thanks to Internet.

The Nightmare

2011-05-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

My story-V

We were living in the ( 4 Area ) Defence Area at Agra City , which is situated on the Agra Fatehpur sikri road. This has residential quarters for the families for Air Force personnel. We were residing in this area for a quite some time , probably 1972, I think . It was a dark winter nights, so dreadful and chilly making a scene of some horror movie , the temperature was sub zero. Cold winds were sweeping the whole belt of North India .
I and my brother were studying in those days at the Central School in the Air Force station. I was a bit unwell, as I had caught bad cold and was unable to sit or sleep properly. I was feeling restless , I felt obstructed breathing due to bad cold and cough. My chest was creating wheezing sound . Though I had been given some medicine but it was not proving good nor it was giving me the desired relief. Though I tried to study, as my brother thought I am tricking to evade studies. At times he even scolded me ,he would ask me to sit up properly. Actually the younger siblings are bit carefree and problematic ,where as the seniors are quite responsible.
Usually ,we had been studying till late as my father was to come late after the Night duty . However my mother had gone to bed with my younger sister . Here I would like to share a secret with you all . My sister is exactly nine years younger than me . Strangely we have same birthday. It is more strange that, I and my wife’s birthday also falls on the same day, It is off-course a coincident that my Better half , also shares the birthday with her brother . This great day is 18th May, it is the occasion we the four people greet each other – “Happy Birthday” and in return we say it “ Same to you”. That way I and my wife now have two occasions to celebrate and mutually share “Wedding Anniversary” as well as our “ Birthdays”.
It was around Midnight we heard the knock at the door, probably my father had arrived. My brother called up, Who’s there? My father called brother’s name and asked to open the door. He kept his bicycle in the lobby, and entered the room. He was shivering with cold, however he had worn woolens and winter uniform. He asked us to arrange for some hot drink, I woke my mother. She prepared hot milk for Father.
Father asked me about the health , I just nodded that I was feeling better with the medicine. Father then inquired about the medicine from my mother . She said that ,she had given it to me. Also that she had given some light diet “Khichri” to me, as I had refused to eat the dinner. In fact that day Mom had made brinjals which I always hated in my life.
She said to Father , “I think it is quite cold out side”.
Father said –“Yes, it is extreme cold outside, rather there is dense fog , the visibility is very very poor.”
My mother asked, “ You might have faced much problem in returning home?”
“Yes it is very difficult to move in such dense fog. It is dead dark out there ,nothing is visible at all.” – he said.
“Then you must be careful while moving like this.” My mother said.
“Actually we were three persons and we moved very carefully, lighting our torches.” My father explained.
“We almost escaped at one place, there was some vehicle standing in the dark ,which had either broke down or may be it was wrongly parked.” He added. “We somehow were able to save our selves with out any harm,”
After sipping hot milk from the cup, Father felt bit cozy he asked mom to go to bed, and he went to bathroom to freshen up. In few moments we also switched off the lights. It was past midnight. The chilly winds were blowing creating the sensation of fear and horror. Slowly the window panes were vibrating sending waves of dreaded unforeseen danger at one place the glass was broken and wind was entering in through, there the curtain was fluttering making strange noise ,raising the suspense and horror levels in our mind. It seemed that some supernatural creature is trying to break into our home to capture us. Our innocent minds were running like discs with high speed in the computers, filling our soft minds with strange feelings and questions as what would happen. The scene was very apt for sort of horror play to take the stage. Some how we both brothers made a brave attempt ,and were satisfied that at least our parents were there to take care of us in case any un-towards thing happens. My thoughts were running wild ,thinking of demons and ware wolfs , the imaginary creatures and things we read in the stories. We were in the beds and soon were fast asleep , at first I took my brothers hands in mine, to be sure he is with me, to be very frank, I was bit disturbed and frightened at the whistling of the winds ,and shaking of the window glasses .If I were alone there I would have screamed .

The Time was quarter past 4.00 in the night, when the silence of the night was all of sudden broken with a loud bang noise . Everyone was terrified ,there was commotion every where . My Parents too were stunned at the sudden sound of explosion . The doors and windows shook terribly due to the bang Everyone wondered , what could be the cause of the explosion. However, my father being in Defence Services was mentally prepared as usually the defence people are always ready to face any un-towards situation . There was loud noise of cries of human struggle and pain. People started to come out of their homes in quest to know. Every one had his own assumptions or conclusions, it was quite confusing situation. It was a situation what one may say like a enemy attack on the civilian area. So people of the colony came out asking each other.
Since all were the Defence people living in the colony so they planned a strategy in a real Army type operation to check the situation. Someone in the group said to form two teams to search out the cause and location . Since it was pitch dark and more over it was foggy with only few yards visibility. The team of volunteers were suggested to first collect some material for personal safety , a stick or some sort, also all they were asked to arrange for torches . The group of four persons volunteered to go towards the east of the main road leading towards the Agra City. Another group of five volunteers moved to the opposite direction towards the west on the road leading towards Fatehpur Sikri. All had to move about 200 yards from the colony on the lane ,in order to reach to the main road. After lot of cautious but brisk steps the team was moving away in opposite directions from each other. However, the team moving towards the Fatehpur Sikiri had one bicycle with them. Almost all were wearing the big Defence coats or jackets.
Both the teams were moving steadily and there was no sign of any accident or mishap they had come across till now. However after moving for a while on the decided path and anticipated plan the team which was moving to the west, towards the Fatehpur Sikri heard some shouts of men in distress probably few yards ahead of them, of people and some cattle , it was about 500 yards ahead of link road of the colony where we resided, the team then suddenly felt that as they moved ahead the sounds were growing more stronger by every step, they hurriedly took steps as they moved to the ground Zero ,which was very close. Just few yards ahead they got some clue . The road was telling a sad story . A big tragedy had occurred had taken place . There was marks of some thing heavy had been dragged with big force, there was blood ,grains, wooden pieces ,metal splinters ,broken wheels and human clothes all scattered .It was a pointer that how big the tragedy was. Since it was pitch dark and visibility was almost negligible. The team members flashed the torches and shouted who is there. “ Hello, Hello…. Is somebody there? ”
There came some painful growling cries of the men , as if someone was crushed under some heavy weight, they were calling for help since the time the accident occurred. “O! God, Help us … Please help ” . These people had lost hope that some one will come to their help at this hour. On seeing the people calling for them, and the flashing of torch lights raised their hopes ,the victims gained courage, they made calls that they were trapped. By then the volunteers reached the site , the scene was very pathetic and moving one , A heavy loaded truck had mowed down a bull cart which was also laden with some grains and other household. The truck was loaded with long iron bars. The truck had crushed two men under the wheels and one oxen had been killed as it was crushed under the truck front wheels. The cart was half crushed and half overturned. The other oxen lay under the cart trapped but alive and load of the grains. The driver of the truck had fled the scene as he feared that people will catch hold of him and thrash him . It was clear that it was the Truck driver who was the real culprit. As he had brought the truck on the wrong side, he either was under the influence of liquor or he fell sleep. Moreover, the fog had also played the villain , it was a head on collusion .It was a very heart rending scene.
The torch lights just were giving some idea about the gravity tragedy, but these lights were not enough, Team members then quickly decided to raise fire and call for more help. The team members started raising alarm and sent one member to call the other people of the other search party. He was also instructed to arrange for some fire and was asked to bring kerosine oil and match box, as soon as possible at the site of accident. The volunteer rushed on his bicycle and after some time reached the members of the other team. Who were almost travelled as much distance ,but to the other direction . As they did not find any thing on their side so they were contemplating to abandon their search operation . He raise the alarm for his friends of the other party.
“ We have found that there is a accident at some distance, so please rush there ,we need more help”. Every one nodded and they almost ran towards the accident site.
Within moments the second team also reached quickly at the site of accident. The first team members who were at the site , mean time sought some help of more men from the residents of nearest blocks of colony. In no time people were ready and rushed to the spot. Since the accident was so grave that more men and machinery were required. As the volunteers had gathered in good number they tried to help the victims . At first the fire was built up with some wooden logs at both the directions, this improved the light at the spot and people could plan the rescue operation. Some volunteers were deputed to inform the Police.

The Truck that struck had the front wheels knocked down and was resting over the cart, below the cart lay two bodies of men in the pool of blood. Two persons were under the heavy weight of the remains of the cart and bags of grain .They were perhaps alive but injured. The passerby trucks were requested to extend some help to extract out the trapped victim.
The police arrived as usual at the snails pace and that too, ill equipped ,Just two constables arrived at the scene ,they behaved as if nothing serious had happened, they just tried to gauge the situation, simply noted down the details of the truck, seized the documents from the driver’s cabin ,noted some other details of the victims and injured, The constable looked indifferent and said nothing can be done right now ,we will have to call the traffic crane to pull out which will be available in the morning. He said we are going to Police station and report the matter to our higher authorities. The people standing there were feeling cheated , feeling restless at the callous attitude of the police. The rescue party of citizens asked the police party to help the victims trapped ,who are injured and alive so that they are saved. The police official said,
“ It is a police case and we cannot remove the material as it is now a - accident case material”.
People started to argue with the policemen -
“ Why we cannot remove the material, we need to save the lives.?”
“No, No one can touch the material evidence” - said the policeman .
To this every one was annoyed and threatened to remove the truck away and save the injured . The policemen argued and warned that - “ if anybody interferes in the working of Police he will be dealt seriously”.
People said with anger- “ How can someone die like this . It is absolutely nonsense ?”
The crowd was in good number they shouted at the police and hooted them. The Policemen felt outnumbered and under pressure they left the spot immediately in a huff. They ran away like the frightened dogs squeeze their tails in their legs and escape from the site.
The colony people were now in good number at the site , as the message spread that a big tragedy has taken place ,everyone lined up to see what had happened, some women of the colony also got up and reached the spot.
We all at our homes were also in a different situation , we were not having any up date of the happenings on the roadside, and also about the search teams, some ladies of the block were sitting discussing the seemingly horrified event, that had shaken the hearts of all and disturbed the atmosphere. I, some how got strength from unknown source which enabled me to sit along with other kids all my ailments and sleep vanished like’ the horns from the head of a donkey’ . The sleep had gone out of the eyes of all. Even the children were awake in fear and confusion. Many dreaded ideas were creeping in the minds. We all were awake as the commotion and activity made us insecure. We young minds were racing with different ideas , for us it was a perfect setting for a horror movie flick. We the kids were already terrified by the whistling of the winds and the bang had made it worse. The kids were taking refuge with their mothers though trembling with chilly winds. Many other kids of the colony were sitting there hearing the story nuggets , some were interesting ,some were horrifying and others were quite boring and stupid to.
Mom got busy with making arrangements for comfort for the ladies and children. Ladies were sitting in our verandah on the carpet, our house was at the advantageous and prominent location so, every one assembled there. This was actually the favorite place for the colony ladies to assemble for daily dose of gossips. They used to assemble here for discussion of Social, political, entertainment, and off course for most important duty to discuss ‘Private’ issues of others . Our home had become a virtual civic Assembly Hall of the sort to discuss the problem in hand now. There were many ‘ Butterfly Experts’ giving their views , more or less they appeared to me not less than Rani of Jhansi ,the freedom fighter or Sarojni Naidu dictating the action plan to their soldiers and comrades .
The ladies at this “Base camp” at times , asked each other to just shut up for a while and concentrate on to listen to the diminished sounds so that they are able to get some clue what’s going on at the ‘Front’, whenever they heard a bit of hush sound . Some Ladies were standing beneath the street light near my home. It was a very peculiar situation. The women and children were now so motivated and charged up that, they were prepared that ,in case anyone who ever dared to trespass or misadventure ,he will be lynched . The people sitting in this group had apprehensions that something worst is definitely going to happen today . The ladies and children were ready for any ‘game’ armed as they were with what they could lay their hand to ,sticks, bats, ropes ,washing stick, bricks and stones. The ‘brigade’ was ready for any eventuality, like the members of Azad Hind Fauj raised by Subhash Chander Bose, for the mission to do or die.

As some time passed , the conversations which was bit diminished for a while , among the ladies became intense and bit louder. There came a alert form the members standing near the street light, the lights were put off ,and every one was supposed to keep complete silence. The visibility was very poor, no one could see through even at a distance of few feet’s. The noise of someone coming was being herd, some movements were felt. As the persons came closer the group of women volunteers sprang up and tries to thrash the person without knowing who they were, as someone in the crowd had ordered to grab them. The brigade attacked like tigers and foxes. Both of the person fell down, as they could not make it as what went wrong. It was only when they shouted loudly that ,women identified that they were indeed their own men. The attack orders was withdrawn, as they realized that they had assaulted their own family members. All felt sorry, and explained the matter, that they were frightened at the happenings and there was no inputs of what was happening out there with the search party still out of reach.
In facts the Two volunteers who had gone to search out the cause of bang , had come back it convey that ,what had happened so that, there is no panic back home . Rather they had a shocking incident to face here at their ‘Base Camp’. However a big tragedy was averted , ‘Thank God! This could have been a big tragedy ’ the men had a sigh of relief. Soon the blame game started among the ladies. The men however laughed and said to stop the stupid act and assist them. The ‘commanders’ at the ‘base camp’ were embarrassed and cut a sorry figure. Rather men said it was correct that they should have been more vigilant but, hypersensitivity or rash action could lead to catastrophe.
Every one was curious to know the updates, Ladies asked -
“ What happened, What happened?”
All eyes turned towards the two .The men described the situation that had been discovered by them during the search operation . The news sent a shock wave in all our minds.
“Oh ! God” A women said .
Every one there was in deep sympathy with the poor victims , every eye rolled down tears. Some of the sensitive ladies started to weeping intensely ,it was a pathetic scene to watch.
Someone in the crowd asked , “How much is the casualty.”
“ We found only Two yet, I think …We need to search them out for more ”
“Are there any survivors.”
“ Yes , We think there are couple of people alive but are trapped.”
“We are hopeful we can save them at least”
The kids were confused ,as they were half asleep and half awake . We all were stumped, our innocent minds raced with fear and horror , trying to make up pictures in our mind as to what had actually happened. The death story of the innocent victims sent a spine chilling impact on the group of ladies . The men then tried to return back to the spot and had described the situation is very grim and tense , “It might take more time to complete rescue operation as it required more men and machinery to get the victims out”. They immediately collected some material they required to rush back to the spot. It turned a night mare for all the colony residents.
Slowly as the time was passing and dawn was about to show, more than an hour or so had passed but the rescue operation could not been started at the site. The official machinery did not come to perform their duty. These were the real tense moments for the crowd standing and worthlessly waiting for the help from the Administration . The men could not wait any more .They were not ready to afford to wait for the arrival of official help, nor were they anticipating any. Any further delay would mean sure death for the trapped victims as it was intense cold. However all that need to be done had been done some of the loose material had been removed where the two injured were actually trapped.
Mean time some moral boosting thing happened, The relatives and people from the village to which the victims belonged to, got the news and arrived in good number that too, with two tractor trolleys. The rescue plan was discussed with them , It was decided to Lift the truck front up so the cart that struck underneath could be removed. Mean while some trucks which were passing through the road were stopped and their help was sought. The passing trucks were requested to spare the tools and some help. The drivers of the other passing by Trucks ,assisted the volunteers. Big jacks were used to pick up the truck that had struck in the accident. The single jack could not withstand the load so two other jacks were arranged, The truck was very heavily loaded so was causing the problems. The accidental truck was lifted up to a certain level and big logs were place under it. As the truck front was lifted that made way to move the cart out. Some volunteers removed the bags of food grains entangled in the cart out. With in moments the cart was cleared, The victims who were trapped under the cart were gently pulled out. The team members then quickly inspected the wounds of the two injured victims. A vehicle was quickly arranged to shift the injured to the civil hospital. Though after an hour or so good news came that the injured were declared out of danger. However the men asked women to arrange for some hot tea for the persons doing the rescue operation and the victims. Our colony families had by now had activated the rescue and help . The colony ladies pooled in some resources to arrange for the tea for the villagers who were here. The dead bodies were also evacuated and placed on the side and covered with while sheets. The villagers were wailing for their relatives who lost their lives. The colony people were anxious to know as what was the reason of tragedy. All the onlookers were curious to know about the casualties, they were moved at the sight.
As the day light spread the bright rays of the morning made the view some what clear. The sight at the spot became more visible and one could gauge the impact of the accident. The truck had rammed the cart from the front, probably the driver was under the influence of liquor or was asleep, the truck was moving in a great speed and had dragged the cart along for about 30 yards, crushing it under the front of the truck. The road bore the testimony to the accident .It was a tragedy that shook every heart.
Slowly the people of our colony started to return home as it was getting late to go to their respective duties. However the villagers had gathered there in good strength. It was now the duty of the police to register the case. It was till 7.30AM that the police failed to arrive . The people sitting there now started to disperse to make other arrangements. The tractors of the villagers also returned to their village to come after some time.
We also were ready to go to school. We boarded the school bus, which incidentally passed through the same route where the accident had taken place. The school bus slowed down a little, and we all just had a look , the bus students started to discuss the night incidents, every child had a story to tell. Later in the school also the topic was being discussed every where .
Later when we returned from the school, we had something new for us to hear, A high drama was enacted by the Police . Probably the scene at the accident site was very disturbing. Now the hot debate was being going on the suspected role of the police . In fact the police arrived very late at the accident site it was about 8.30AM ,on the plea that the traffic crane was not available. The Police on reaching the spot immediately started to hook up the damaged truck , material in truck was unloaded and shifted to other truck . The police officials took some snaps of the site for record purpose and started to investigate about the accident. The officials then ordered the crane driver to tow away the truck to police station and they themselves sat in the police jeep to leave the spot with only half there work done. They deputed only one constable to oversee the site. This infuriated the people sitting their. They sought explanation from the Police party as to what to do with the dead bodies. The police official had no answer. He then pretended that some other party had been deputed for the rest of the formalities. To this the people got agitated, they blocked the crane and jeep of the police. The police at first tried to pacify the people and onlookers, but soon heated arguments started ,police then resorted to manhandling , this act caused the rescue team people to confront and boldly face the police action. The crowd included the persons from our colony, they were unable to control the temper, their patience had given way by now . The indifferent attitude was not at all acceptable, two of them brought their licensed guns and fired in the air. At this stage police found itself trapped. They were forced to leave the truck on the spot. Police was asked to send higher police authorities. Public stood strongly in their way . Their ploy did not work, all hopes of the truck owner and police dashed to grounds.. Perhaps the police was bribed to get the truck out of the accident site, by the truck owner as the load of iron bars, which were actually being smuggled at night to evade tax. In case the truck and material is made the case property the dealer would have been in a additional trouble, as he did not had the proper papers for the purchase of the material. Moreover, they thought the victims are poor and they can be made to make some out of court compromise. Here the people of our colony had taken the situation into their hand and had vowed to help the victim to get justice. The bravely stood between the police and victims.
The dead bodies were lying there till the afternoon the people from nearby villages also gathers . The nexus of the police was exposed. The media and other people of the city stepped in. The bodies were sent to postmortem in the evening only after Sub Divisional Magistrate and higher police officials intervened. The Magistrate ,then assured to the victims relatives and family that justice will be done, he assured that the truck owner and driver will be dealt strictly, he also announced some financial help to the injured and the families of the diseased . Only then was the siege let off. Now, when ever I see any accident of this magnitude ,the memories of this accident flash in front of my eyes. I can never forget this fact that we the people of Air Force colony, stood up against the injustice being done, this unity and consistent effort bore the fruit, and the poor victims of the accident were able to get the due. This is an inspiration for me ,with the grace of god I am able to work for the cause of humanity ,I have joined Indian Red Cross and work for the people.
I wonder how much have we matured in terms of social interactions, earlier also we had to face the wrath of corruption ,and now even, however the situation is more than worse , we have graduated in corruption, earlier the bribe was treated as crime , now it is demanded as a rightful fee. The progress we have made is that , police is not ready to register FIR without money or public pressure , what to say of any thefts , the serious cases of crime like murder ,rape or decoity have no meaning to the law agencies. Every other day they are found seeing the other direction .Where in the Law of the land says to get FIR registered ,it is the primary duty of citizens to do, No one can take law into his hands. In other words the law says us to pay the bribe if you want Law take any action. As there is no way out left for its citizens. Fighting for justice by the poor and innocent is a real nightmare for them.
I pray to God that the good sense prevails and some day we will get justice.

SNAKE CHARMER, THE SAVIOUR

2011-04-14T02:54:00.000-07:00

My story –IV

It is the story when I was about 4 years old ,about 45 years ago . The impressions of the time are still imprinted on my mind. At that time we were living at Kanpur City, The Industrial center of Uttar Pardesh. Kanpur is one of the leading cities in India) in terms of population also . Incidentally, Kanpur is my birth place. I remember that we used to live in Lal Emily Colony, probably it was a housing colony of a big industrial unit .
At that time kids usually were not sent to nursery schools or to any creche of that sort. The kids used to play and learn basic education at homes under the care of Mothers. So there was plenty of time with me to play and enjoy through the social bond of the urban society. This social bond included a vast players of social network which included Father , Mother , brother, sisters, uncles aunts, neighbor, street boys, vendors ,hawkers, and all real characters , not virtual depicted in videos now a days . Then we had no other alternative source of education or activity. At the most the elder siblings were asked to take care of educational matters. I was like some other very enthusiastic child eager to learn things by simply observing them. I remember, I used to sit beside my elder brother and would memorize the things which he used to learn. I was more interested in looking at the pictures in the books , they fascinated me very much . My parents were very happy at my progress and achievements, that when I was merely three years old I had learned the stories and poems of my brother's class, that too without any effort or guidance. I just listened and concentrated on the picture. These were nursery rhymes and stories. Which I even today recall them.
I was very much interested in creative activities. I use to play with simple thing and never made any fuss. In fact, I was bit innovative and use to imitate others . I learn't the thing or actions what I saw other kids do. I used to make things with my imagination ,I made own toys out of waste or clay . This skill still is inside my heart, though in a refined way. Still now children of neighborhood come and ask for help in making science models or some project works. I have been doing this activity since my child hood. It still gives me immense pleasure it again takes me to the world of kids.
One fine day, I was playing in the park adjacent to my home with my friend. It was about noon, even some ladies of the locality were also sitting in the park near the place where we were playing . The ladies were enjoying the warmth of the sun and side by side doing their little chores and chatting. We were busy building castle with mud and decorating the home with the things we could lay our hands, may be some matchboxes ,waste boxes, bottles or may be some small toys and flowers , in the ‘ home’ we had built with sand, that some building contractor had dumped there. Playing in mud and sand was my passion. I however never ate mud even at the age of 1 yrs , as usually most of the kids used to do at that age , so that way my mother was confident and I was allowed to play with sand without any restriction . She had only problem that I used to spoil the clothes often , off course that’s our birth right. Kids should not be singled out even clothes of elderly person get soiled after wearing for a day.
After it was quite a while we were playing there ,suddenly a lady came out shouting breathlessly at the top of her voice ,from her house “ Help! Help” this really created panic in all of those who were there . Everyone there were stunned . We wondered , what could have happened all of sudden . Her face was pale with fear. She fumbled and was unable to explain the horrified sight she has witnessed.She was making some sort of signs . We all were frightened ,as nobody knew what had happened . No one had any clue rather . Some of the ladies rushed to wards the house where the lady was crying in order to know the reason and possibly help her out. They were crowding in front of a house which was some 50mts away form where we were constructing our ‘mansion’ ,off course of mud. We also thought we should inquire about the matter or we could at least contribute in increasing in the number of spectators.
Usually people crowding at the place have lot of time spare to have fun and discuss the matter like the present media ,even if somebody is lying in pool of blood. But unfortunately they do not have time to extend help in the hour of need. There are only few brave hearts who are helpful, others are just free consultants or advisors. Just ask them to help and they will vanish like dinosaurs have.
The kids are prohibited to go to the site of any incident. I was wondering why we the kids are asked to stay behind, when we are only to be spectators like the most of the big people standing there .I wondered why ,in such situations kids are banned to visit such places, may be the adults feel the kids may unknowingly do some voluntary act of helping the victim against their wishes ? There we were just kids and our duty was only to keep safe distance or secretly sneak there without the detection of adults to peep from any possible angle or place we get behind the crowd ,either under the legs of the people standing in the crowd or any place which is comparatively higher and from where the view is clear. So I decided to defy the Child Safety Act, I made up a brave front and sneaked from a small space I could find.Luckily, all the ladies were so busy discussing the problem in hand that my presence was not noticed or probably it did not matter to them. Off course, the matter was more serious than my unauthorized trespassing of the prohibited area.I was expecting something special to see, because the crowd consisting of ladies of the locality making a beeline and gathering in front of the house where the lady was seeking help .Just then I heard the lady wailing , something was terribly wrong I wondered, she looked very terrified and desperate I heard the ladies in the crowd talking about the presence of the snake in the house. I innocently looked at the faces of the lady spectators, in an effort to find any clue or bit of information about the matter as why was the lady was crying. But it was not clear what had happened there. As the ladies were not moving ahead from the place where they were standing. Possibly like the army of soldiers waiting for the final orders of the General to attack. I was cursing for why the army of ladies is not proceeding ahead.

Then all panicked , I saw two ladies rushing to one direction and calling some men who were working in the building for help. In moments a group of laborers who were working in nearby under construction building rushed to the spot where we were standing. Then a group of women ran to some other side to fetch some more help. Possible to send message to the ladies husband who was crying or may be some other persons.
After some grueling time, there crowd started to swell. Then some one said ,"A snake has entered the house and has engulfed the sleeping child in its loop." To which I could not figure out the situation I had never heard of this kind of situation . There was total commotion and chaos at the site . The men who came there from the construction were not able to do any thing , few then entered the house very cautiously to access the situation ,someone suggested to bring bamboo sticks, after few minutes the men returned with long bamboo sticks. They tied two sticks to gather to make the length suitable . This method was very risky ,as it could cause hurt to child or snake ,which would worsen the situation . But they were not able to do the desired action. as the snake was probably sitting in a advantageous situation. The effort with bamboo was abandoned. We were not able to know what was happening. The men were inside the house. The actual situation was not clear to anybody. Till the men who had tried to trap the snake came out and explained that the situation was not so simple as we were thinking.
The time was running out ,the mother of the child , who was crying was losing her patience ,she was feeling more nervous and was on the verge of fainting. The women in the crowd were consoling her. Then some ladies narrated the fact ,to an elderly person of the vicinity ,that actually the child of the lady was sleeping in the house on the bed, there a snake came from outside and quietly wrapped his body around the child in a very critical position that in case the child is disturbed the snake could cause fatal damage to the child.The old lady suggested some trick or something the crowd got restless and rejected the plan.
The crowd standing in anticipation of good news was confused ,and disheartened on learning that the situation inside was more complex. The ‘advisors’ in the crowd started murmur and some in crowd suggested to call the Municipality Personnel or Fire Fighting Deptt. Then some persons were deputed to bring the experts as soon as possible. After about some half an hour or so some of the municipality workers came with some sort of hooks and instruments. The tried their tricks, for a while, but of no anvil . After a long struggle they too failed in their operation. Then after a lot of activity the operation rescue could not be accomplished by the MC staff, as any wrong step , certainly could put the child’s life in danger .

Thank God, the child did not move and was in deep sleep and was safe . The people who were handling the situation were more concerned about the well being of the child. In case the child is moved the snake could turn violent and attack any one. The situation was very critical, The child was asleep for a long period and it was possible it could get up and the situation could turn from bad to worse.
When all the efforts failed, the people sitting outside the house occupied by snake started to pray and sing holy songs in order to gain some spiritual strength to face the typical situation, as there was no way out to rescue the child safely from the clutches of the snake. In this type of situation we people depend on god so we try to garner some strength and solace. The God is our savior in the tragic moments. The group of women were trying to muster courage to keep the mother in high spirits whose child was trapped in the grip of snake. The place soon turned into a religious congregation.
Probably the snake was himself terrified by the situation, might have felt lot of human activity. That’s why it did not made any movements. May be it was hiding here as a safe place? What more safe place could it find than the sleeping child on the bed. In fact the snake was getting a soft and cozy place to relax. It might have come from a forest area in the neighborhood of the colony.
As the news spread about this strange incident people started to flock the place. It appeared that a mini circus or a fair is going on. Many advisors and consultants arrived and gave their opinions and bit of advises which could not be implemented as most of them were ill conceived. Then an old man suggested that why not try to requisition a snake charmer. This advise clicked with every one. Every one nodded in its favor. The real problem stood in way of this plan, Where we could find them? Then every one started to make a quick search for some Snake Charmer here and there . Then a person standing there raised a ray of hope among the depressed crowd. He said he knows a Snake Charmer . He offered to go and request him to come and rescue the child.

After about half an hour there was a wave of cheer in the crowd , there came a Snake charmer, He was holding a “Been” ( a special Flute ) a instrument which is blown by mouth and gives a sound which causes a intense sound vibration to which the snakes get attracted. He was also having two big bags tied to a wooden stick at its two ends carried on his shoulder . The Charmer was wearing a long gown of orange coloured cloth ,he had tied a cloth over his hip ,He was wearing big necklace of big black beads . He wore a loose and irregularly shaped turban. For some moments he looked like a magician of classical stories of Alladin in Arabian knights . He waved at the crowd as if he was a great leader and greeted all with folded hands . He soon started to blow the 'Been' and all the people standing were spell bound as they were thinking what could happen next. It became a matter of discussion and curiosity.It was a Million Dollar question. I too wondered what could happen by this act of the Snake charmer. All were optimistic that he will be able to rescue the child from the clutches of the snake.
As the Snake Charmer started piping the 'been' the atmosphere was filled by the musical sound of the instrument. The musical melody created by the been is a deep relation with Indian Folk traditions. This sight made a very pleasant feeling a strange sensation ran down the spine . The prayers were being said by the onlookers. Seeking the blessings of God to save the innocent life. The Snake Charmer then entered the house. He sprinkled some magical water in the room, He then had a close look at place where the snake had engulfed the child in his grip. He continued to play the been. The onlookers had a tense moments as every one were keeping their fingers crossed with prayers on their lips. It took some time when the snake got up from its slumber, probably by the sound of the been. It is however told the snakes are usually deaf ,but they are very sensitive to the vibrations or the human activity. The trick of the snake Charmer worked miracle , the snake decided to release the kid and moved away slowly . The snake was slowly moving out of the room where it had taken the refuge. The snake when came out towards the Snake Charmer ,as if he was waiting for him to take it to some safe place away from this madding crowd.
As the snake came out of the house People started to rejoice ,and thanking God for sparing the life of the child. Their prayers were answered by God. The Snake when came out of the house , the Snake charmer swiftly grabbed the tail of the snake, and he strongly made an attempt to catch the snake firmly. He immediately put the snake in a cloth bag and tied its mouth with a rope, He than placed this snake in his basket. This was a big snake probably 6 to 7 feet long, black coloured, The charmer told the people that it was a female snake . People standing there then asked him about the snake he was having. He then opened another basket kept in the other big bag. He showed how the snake dance to the tune of the Been. We all enjoyed the show very much. People then thanked the Snake charmer for helping the child. The child luckily then got up and was confused at the gathering. The mother rushed to him and she embraced the child and cried uncontrollably , She was happy as her child was saved.
People collected some money and handed over to the Snake Charmer for his services. The emotional scene at the colony is still afresh in my memory till date as the archieves of my life's events I have been a witness to.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

Tangled

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

2011-02-20T03:47:00.000-08:00

Sour Grapes

2011-02-20T03:02:00.000-08:00

My story-III -

It is said that the signs of a personality are shown in the childhood itself, It is absolutely true. As I am right now, I having the habit of voluntarily offering to any cause that might help other person in distress. I do not just doubt anybody’s intentions sometimes, and invite trouble. Nevertheless , this habit of mine is die-hard one. I am narrating this story which I think was a nasty one in my early childhood days, may be it could be one of the first of this kind ,where I had invited some trouble on my own , which was worth more than a slap or two, for voluntary help extended to some ‘friends’ ( you may call them so) I can not call them ‘strangers’ all to gather, after all they had allowed me to play with them was a very kind gesture to me. What more can a kid think of ? Off course the voluntary service if indeed an act which is thankless and mostly go unrewarded.

My memories flashback take me to the time of my childhood in beautiful city of South India ,which has now grownup to be a prominent metropolitan city of India. It was the a urban area ,situated on the out skirts of main city area in Bangalore I lived there with my family. As usually, I use to play with the kids of the locality. One or two were just known to me other were not known to me . They were obviously elder than me may be of 15 years or more , at that time I must have been half their age ,of 6-7 yrs. Nor did they belong to our school may be they were in some other school. I was then studying in Central School ,in the Air Force Area I remember. They were just familiar with our faces so we were just casual friends in a way . As when ever our parents used to search for us they easily could tell them about us.

Adjacent to the colony there was a very large vacant ground. I generally used to play with my friend of same age group .I loved to play marbles or ride tricycle or play with foot ball. Comparatively it was a safe place in terms of traffic or other problems. So the parents never had any apprehension of any trouble to their kids ,so parents did allow us to play. Off course at that times there were no modern day hustle of bikes and cars. Those were days of simplicity. People had limited resources. So were the kids , they were very humble and used to share their properties. To make better of the situation. Now days mostly kids are possessive and non cooperative. Their parents now can afford to buy lot of toys for each one. So the kids now do not share their goodies.

There was a typical problem at that time. Kids did not had many options or choice either, they were made to bear the resources crunch. It was time we witnessed, that parents used to bring clothes in bulk of single colour and print. All the siblings “irrespective of sex or age ”were provided clothes of same print, one could easily identify the “Company” to which kids belonged to, from the colour and print of the cloth. These clothes used to be our trademark. Since it was common site so nobody had any grudge . We were simply happy as we used to get some pair of clothes.

Those were the days of November or probably December. I am not sure about. It was afternoon on a sunny day .It was Sunday or may be some holiday, as we all were playing in the playground. I was taking ride on a tricycle ,along with my friend. Some of the boys were flying kites,some were playing football some playing marbles , some other kids were running a race in different part of the ground . We were moving on the side lines in the playground ,playing safe . Enjoying the sight of the other games, all free of cost , there was no commercialization of sports, at that time. It was something sort of Commonwealth Games going on in the Playground at a time ,sans Kalmadi and company of New Delhi 2010 fame , thank god.

We were at that time resting for a while munching some candies , enjoying the games other children were playing there .We saw an interesting competition going on in the skies. Some lads were flying the kites at the edge of the play ground, they were challenging the other kids to dare to cut down their Kites. Small group of on looker children including me were cheering their favorite kite . The elder boys were in control of the whole gamut. Kites were flying very high , giving a beautiful sight to watch.

Children have great fascination for such things. I was no exception. The kite flyers were having big reels of the strings of kite, which their junior assistants used to carry in their both hands giving the control of the strings of the kite to the main player . Some times the kite-flyer was pulling the strings so vigorously and shouting at his assistants to collect the string on the reel as soon as possible otherwise the string will get entangled and will be useless . I had picked up bits of information of the games from the local lads who were familiar with it , I was told that ,the strings was called as “Doori” or “manjha” ( we call it in ‘Punjab’ in North India) I also started to use the vocabulary .The strings were special as they were having coating of some hard material, People paste grounded pieces of glass over the string , this coated strings were of various colors and need careful handling otherwise it could snap your fingers.

I witnessed the combat of kites in the sky over the ground where we were playing. It looked similar to the ‘Dog Fighting’ of jet planes of Air Force doing the exercise in the sky. During that time a kite was snapped of the string by the other opponent. There went the wave of jeers ,this winner boy was flying a Red and white colored kite . The wining team was very excited and now was ready to take on the other opponent in the sky he then challenged the other boy indecently my friend was supporting the boys flying a big blue and yellow colored kite .I also joined in as my friend was there. We started to cheer up the boy flying a blue and yellow colored kite . As the boy used to live near to my friends house, so he was quite familiar to my friend. This prompted us to be his fan . The competition continued for some time and arguments started to hot up. The supporters of both kite flyers were creating a hype and tense moments were seen . The pleasant wind was blowing and making the kite flying more enjoyable. Some other kites of different colors also joined in the tussle . Sky was like a beautiful canvas, dotted by the colorful kites.

At that place there were some kite snatchers group active with their tools to snap the flying kites off and they used to grab it after snapping . They used a simple tool ,tying a stone to the long string ‘manjha’ at one end the other end usually was with the kite snatchers. The modus oprndi was the stone tied string is thrown over the string ‘manjha’ of the flying kite. The string is then pulled down strongly this could snap off the string of the kite this is a interceptive weapon . These ‘ Kite pirates’ were always on the prowl. They would often bully the kite owners.

The sight was very exciting , we were enjoying the game. Then suddenly the group, which I and my friend was supporting ,went tizzy and their faces turned pale, they had now lost the control over the blue and yellow kite their team was flying , the string of the kite was snapped by the kite of red and white colour and the kite was now losing the height. The wind was strong and all our members as well as the opponent team were running towards the direction where the ‘Kati Patang’ ( snapped kite ) was heading because it was now being drifting away due to the current of the wind. After a long chase the guys who were chasing to grab the kite were disappointed . The kite had entered a big farm land .It had a fence all around. Actually it was a grape wine yard laden with half ripe grapes .

The children stopped with curious greedy eyes fixed on the falling kite. But their efforts went in vain. The kite struck somewhere in the farm good distance from the fence , where the big boys were not able to reach by any means. The group of children were trying all sort of the tricks to reach at the ‘booty; string of the kite. Everyone failed in their attempts. After a lot of brain storming by the guys there , it was decided to enter the farm by making way through the fencing. The big guys were reluctant to enter the farm.

Since the scene was bit tense ,as all efforts were not bearing any results. Someone in the crowd asked will someone try to go inside the farm. I stood up and boldly accepted the challenge. Thinking ,obviously that will be a good opportunity to prove my sincerity to the group ,and they will make me their friend. I offered that I will execute the mission to bring back the lost ‘honour’ of the group. Every one there started clapping and cheered me. I felt like a ‘Hero’, a commando preparing for an operation in a enemy territory . I was made to enter through a little opening made by twisting and pulling the barbered wire. The guys standing out side the fence were speechless and nervous. I did not had the feel of any sort. I was however moving with confident steps to the area where the kite had crashed. I was fascinated by the green roof of the grape vines leaves The grape vines were supported by some wire net at a good height giving an look of a green verandah . These vines were having green grapes bunches hanging down, though they , were they ripe or not I did not know . I had never got any opportunity to see such scene earlier. I looked at the fruit with astonishment and enjoying the beauty of the nature. The boys behind me peeping from the other side of the fence , they were making signals and giving instructions in hushed tones, guiding me towards the spot I had to reach. I quietly headed to that place it was abut 15 to 20 yards inside the fence . There at that spot I saw the string of the kite hanging down. I gently tried to pull the string of the kite at that time the boys standing outside the farm started to shout in joy. It seemed that I had pulled the curtain of the theater play rather than string of the fallen kite. Strange events unfolded thereafter.

Their excitement cries invited a new problem for me ,I was unaware about it ,until I was confronted by it. The shouts of the kids had alerted the watchman ,who was moving near this place. I was wondering why the kids standing out suddenly went silent . Before I could know what had happened ,he just appeared in front of me like a ‘Gin of Alladin’ from nowhere . I was trapped ,He took hold of me by the collar ,slapping me couple of times. He held me like a chicken . I started to cry in pain . All my efforts to show my innocence went futile. I was frighten by the angry red eyes and a rough hand waiting for punching me . He then plucked two bunch of grapes and put it in my pocket. He then called out if any one was there . There was no one. Everyone who were standing outside the fence had fled from the scene .

He asked me in a harsh tone “ what is your name?”

I said “ I am ……….”. I looked like Micky mouse.

He again asked rudely ,“What is your father’s name?”

To which I honestly replied “….is my father”

“You have come here to steal grapes ,did’t you ?”.

I said “ No, No , it is not true. I had come here to pickup the fallen kite.” Pointing towards the kite.

He was not impressed and dragged me out of the farm heading towards the colony where we were living . We were now heading towards my home. The watchman on the way asked someone about my identity. The person pointed towards our home. That person asked “what’s the matter? Why are you dragging him like that ?” The watchman said “ He had entered the farm to pluck the grapes, he had caught me red handed”.

There I saw some of the street kids were walking behind us, they were enjoying the sight and making nasty comments, moving in a procession as if I was some big criminal arrested by the police.

I was presented before my parents .Unfortunately , my father was in home at that time. The case was presented before the ‘ jury’ by the watchman showing the evidences of ‘grapes bunches’ , which he had put into my pocket deliberately to prove his point . This was enough for my father to infuriate him . I was not questioned by father , but his heavy hands did the duty of the punishing the ‘culprit’, without even establishing the offence. However I was already crying while in custody of watchman . No one in the crowd was believing me , not even my family members. It was like the police handling the routine cases. All who were there were saying something against me. It is clear they were at least not praising my act of bravery atleast . Nobody had any sympathy with me rather every one standing there was making mockery of me. I felt the heat of insult . I was a laughing stock for all. Luckily one of my uncles (friend of my father ) came and ask me the facts. I told him that I did not go there for plucking the grapes ,and that I had entered the farm only to bring the fallen kite of our friends. In fact I was not at all having the height to pluck the grapes I was also not aware about the grapes were there ,when I had entered the farm . This fact was then confirmed from other kids who were playing there at the spot and were witness to the incident . My father also realized that he had just reacted in spur of moment and in haste. He did not crosschecked the facts. Actually he felt embarrassed at the sight of people in front of his home. He felt sorry about it. My friend then came and confirmed about this incident , he said that everybody there ran away on seeing the watchman, I was left all alone and he had nothing he could do for me..

I was wondering why the other boys were reluctant to enter the farm. They probably knew that the Farm had watchman always there ., as they were afraid of being caught .This fact was not in my knowledge. I had suffered this all due to my innocence. This is how I paid for voluntary service an act of bravery , probably my first of that kind.

I mustered strength to bear the insult I was meted out at the hands of the clever watchman in his effort to eulogize his sincerity and dutifulness. But indeed there was a big grudge in my mind that I was not even given a single pcs. Of the “grapes” to taste, which were alleged to have been plucked by me and that the watchman had planted in my pocket- ‘as the booty’ or theft you may like to say. I was told by my parents that they were sour- why did you pluck them.? Now I realize that the grapes were indeed sour.

2011-02-13T03:41:00.000-08:00

My Story-II

2011-02-13T01:45:00.000-08:00

My Story –II

It was the same place ( Bangalore ) in South India ,where we lived during my early childhood. As My father was in Defense service and posted there . I remember, we were living in a private colony on the out skirts of the city. I was usually a very calm and non fussy child . I used to be very cooperative and enjoyed playing ,with my friends or some times all alone .I used to share my things with my friends .I never was demanding ,remained most of the time contented with what I have with me. I remember ,I had a nice relationship with all. But, I would take up strong position if someone would try to bully.
One day I was playing with my one friend , one boy who was not my friend came and started playing with our toys. I did not mind his playing with our toys, and so did my friend do. We enjoyed for a while. The new boy then left for home. Later he returned back to us .He was boasting of newly acquired musical toy “ Dammru” (made of clay and Paper ) . First we did not care about his toy. How ever one part our mind we were feeling envy about the boy . After some time he started to bargain. He asked my friend to exchange some of his toy. At first my friend was not interested in the offer. But he started making some sound on the dammru ‘Dag-Dag-Dag…….’ ,by flip flopping it . It looked very interesting to both of us. My friend agreed on the deal both of them just exchanged the toys. My friend was very happy and satisfied that he could play with the new toy for free.
After playing for a while my friend was satisfied. We discussed the new toy. We were very happy to share a new toy ,infact we had a secret urge to have the toy . We were also look out for a chance to touch the toy with our own hands . I was also amused by the musical beats of the toy. I thought it was a nice toy to play with. We just continued with this activity. Then the new boy returned to his home leaving behind the “Dammru” with us and taking with him the toy of my friend which he had exchanged with my friend. We were happy to have the toy .Actually we were happy because this toy was denied by our parents ,on the pretext that it is of no use and will break off very soon as it was made up of mud clay and paper. We were thinking how lucky that chap was, that his parents were so kind and generous to buy him the cool toy.
After a good 10 -20mts. We were shocked to see the boy coming back to us with a different mood. He was very rash and agitated . He threw the toy of my friend on to him and demanded back his toy. Which incidentally was
in my hands now. I was playing with it for a while. I was not yet contented by it and needed some more moments of joy . I had liked it . I loved to play with it for some more time before I returned back home. This sudden change of situation made me sad .I protested and refuse to part with it . The boy became a bit impatient and charged on me like a pouncing monkey. In this process I fell down, so did the toy which I was holding and refused to give him back. It turned to be a wrestling ring for all three kids. After a good struggle I overpowered him I said I will give this to my friend only. It will be his will to return the toy to the new boy or not. The boy again tried to snatch the toy from me. In the struggle the toy broke . The boy started to cry loudly and making fuss .He started to abuse me and ran to his home. He complained the matter to his parents .
After all the development taking place, the playing arena had now hotted up , things took a ugly turn. The ‘Big powers’ were to enter the war of kids. We saw the crying kid accompanying his Mother who was in turn shouting and abusing us like a Big Military General marching towards the battle field with battle cries. We did not expect the thing will turn that bad . We were surprised at the sight of boy and his mother at our playing place. She rushed first towards my friend and pounced at him ,she pulled up his ears, slapped him and asked as to why he broke the toy. My friend was like a trapped helpless rabbit, unable to speak any thing or free himself . Her hand were like clutches of prison guard . He just shouted in pain and started to cry and said he did not do any thing, it was “He” who has done it , pointing at me. I was terrified by the scene and had no option but to run away from the place leaving behind my friend and the toys at the mercy at the anguished lady. My escape from the place angered the lady most and she started to shout at top of her voice at me ,making the other street women come out to see what had happened and threatened to complaint to my parents.
I was in a state of shock and terrified. What will happen now? I was wondering about me. My father was very strict in these matters and he never tolerated any complaint against us from out side. I was so frightened that ,I decided not to return to my home I then tried to hide my self some where else till the atmosphere cools down. Though I do not remember where I went for some time in the same vicinity. But after hiding in some secluded place I found a very apt place to hide. It was a staircase of some house from where I could see any one come from a distance in the street ,but the other person could not see me there.
Sitting there for some time , I was fearing that my parents will be searching for a while ,if caught, I will get sound thrashing . As time passed, I was afraid that it was now turning from noon to evening. My parents were now getting weary as to where I had gone. Probably the mother of the child had certainly complained about my unpleasant act. Though no one had given me any opportunity to explain as to what had actually happened to the toy. I saw my brother along with his friend and my friend who’s toy the boy had exchanged coming at a distance . Of course the ‘detective team’ was in search of the “Absconder”. On seeing coming near the building I ducked down and saved from their view , they moved away from the sight.
After a hour or so, unfortunately thing just changed for me. A lady came and found me hiding there ,she started enquiring about me . I started crying on seeing strangers all around me. My thought and wisdom started to betray me. I was shivering with fear of beating from my parents. The Lady was a nice at heart. She took me in her lap and caressed with love. I told her the things that happened . She offered me to take me to my home. She even promised me that no harm will be done to me. I was given some candy by her. I agreed to accompany her to my home.
We when reached our home ,there were tense moments for my parents. On seeing me, my elder brother plunged and caught hold of me and gave a sound thrashing.obviously he was also made to suffer the hardship of the search and combing operation like a security officer tracing the whereabouts of a 'proclaimed offender' . I was stunned at that . I could gauge the tense and uneasiness of all my family members. My family was so much disturbed at my sudden disappearance from the place that they were thinking of some thing worse might had happened. How ever the lady accompanying me tried to pacify my mother and father. She had some argument with them and this probably diluted the anger of my parents. My mother asked me what had happened . I related the whole story to her . I emphasized that it was not my fault ,and it all happened accidentally. I never intended to do that. It was not my nature, my family knew it very well. I later came to know that the lady which took me home was in fact wife of my fathers friend who was working with him. She became my favorite aunt later on.
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MY STORY

2011-01-27T08:50:00.000-08:00

My story –I

I want to share my own story of childhood days , We were living in South India at that time . It was year 1965. I still remember that it is when I was about 4-5 yrs old like any other kid of his times. I was just playing in the street with my friends. There some senior kids were also playing . I heard some one in the group say –“Pakistan has attacked India” . They had probably heard some news in the radio. Then came the big things, kids were filled with patriotism and everyone wanted the opportunity to go to the battle field . They wanted opportunity to fight and defeat the enemy. They wanted to teach Pakistan forces a lesson for misadventure of invading Indian territories .Everyone were so much emotionally carried away that they had their own designs. One of them was so much excited and said , “If I get there I will kill 20 enemy soldiers with my gun”, he was carrying toy gun off course, his other friend just doubled the count to 40 . Yet another brave soul stood there and predicted the victory of our forces as he is going to take fighter plane to Pakistan and destroy the enemy by bombing the places. I wondered what is going on . what are these people saying. But the terms and rhetoric’s did change my innocent mind . I kept my fingers crossed. I was spellbound by the stories they were telling. It definitely moved my mind. Another one pulled out his toy sword and started brandishing it like a true soldier. The all conversation which was turning the children’s play into a Theater Play. The scene changed from soft to brave heroics, little kids gang was filled with a spirit of true nationalism etching to do the honours or die for the cause , they were looking like volcano about to bust.

I was a bit younger , but got excited by the hot arguments and burning desire of the little souls to avenge the misadventure of Pakistan. There was a strange feeling . Even though my father was in Indian Air Force. I did not remember whether my Father had discussed the matter of war with Pakistan . It could be possible that he might have discussed it with my mother. Then I was not at all concerned. At that time I knew not about India or Pakistan, what were they at to do. Actually, there were no such facilities of TV or magazines, which the present kids have access to. I frankly had a no idea what this thing war was. But,by the talks of the children in the street, I was fully charged with patriotism, bravery and unknown ideas , Fantasy of being a soldier in battle field armed to take on the enemy one on one. It was a natural thing for a kid of that age put in that situation.

As the fields conference of brave ‘ could be’ soldiers dispersed . Every one headed towards their homes. Those who just got the information were surprised and curious to get more information. I was one of them. I ran to my home and asked my mom to give me “milk” .Mother was very stunned . She asked me what has happened , are you Ok? Actually I usually disliked drinking milk. I said with a authority – “Don’t you know Pakistan has attacked India ?” “Then what are you to do?” said my mother . You are a kid its not a Child’s business. I again tried to put a brave front and said -Give me milk I will teach the enemy a lesson. I will fight for my country. Mother again insisted that do not worry India is a brave country,it will be able to defeat the enemy who tries to intrude.

Right now you need to first go to the school to study and grow-up then you may join the defense forces. I am proud that you are having such a strong feeling for your mother land. You must have this spirit towards your country. My mother then told me about India, the facts I did not knew earlier. I was then told about the British Imperialism , How India has earned its freedom. Mother told me that thousands of freedom fighters had laid down their lives to get Mother India free from foreign rule. It was during that time, I learned the names of Great personalities Mahatma Gandhi, Pt.Jawahar lal Nehru, Tilak, Rani Jhansi, Bhagat Singh , Neta ji Subhas Chander Bose , Kartar Singh Sarabha and many others who laid their lives for India.

I then onwards I developed a quest for more information about the new developments of the Indo-Pak war ,which my father used to share with my mother. Then it became a regular feature to update my self about India from all possible source my friends & parents. I really started to Love my country. I learned a lot while in school. This incident had a very deep impact on my mind which has in fact developed a never ending love towards my country and people. I salute the spirit of kids who had changed my thinking. I experienced the importance of the events that divert my attention and inculcate the new positive thought in my mind, also changed my attitude and behavior once for all. I wonder if the things had not had happened the way it did , that might have left me like any other children lost in the common street games fighting for candies and teasing the animals.

Thanks.

If you have some very different story to tell ,plz share it here. We will buildup a great collection.

The New Day.

2011-01-22T23:54:00.000-08:00

Golden Sun is rising up,
Calling kids to get up.
Birds are happy and gay,
None of them ,home they stay ,
With folded hands we all pray,
Kids get ready for Learn-n- play.
Noon is very hot ,
There is work to do a lot.
The bell rings Ding- Ding- Ding,
With joy all we sing.
It’s the time to go home,
Here we go to our sweet- sweet Home.

2011-01-22T23:34:00.000-08:00

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Gandhi

My Impressions of Life

2011-01-22T21:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I wish you all a very nice day. I have been doing all kind of things which all persons have been doing , since the childhood on to their journey towards the peak of the life. I have always had a dream to be in lime light ever since my childhood . I have been a very sincere straight forward and simple. But, I have been gifted by the God with an eye of an artist. The observations, though might have lasted for a moment, but it is like a high speed camera ,they made imprints like photographs . I recall these imprints of life on my mind ,when I write or paint a picture. This keen observation skills gifted by God have made me a man I am now. With the grace of God I have a treasure of impressions of life. Here in this blog I would like to share it with all friend who like to . I expect that while reading these anecdotes and write ups will spark a nostalgic feeling of yours too .
I will always welcome your views and stories. This will certainly become a good collection of beauties and cuties of life, some sweet some sour.
With regards .