जोकर
मुझे घड़ी के अलार्म पर उठाना है
कुकर की सीटी का इंतज़ार करना है
और अपनी मौत पर मर जाना है |
मुझे बिना शहीद हुए भी मरना आता है !
सवाल ये नहीं है
परन्तु जवाब है-
'मुझे क्या करना आता है?'
-Sourav Roy "Bhagirath"
जोकर
मुझे घड़ी के अलार्म पर उठाना है
कुकर की सीटी का इंतज़ार करना है
और अपनी मौत पर मर जाना है |
मुझे बिना शहीद हुए भी मरना आता है !
सवाल ये नहीं है
परन्तु जवाब है-
'मुझे क्या करना आता है?'
-Sourav Roy "Bhagirath"
राष्ट्रगान
राष्ट्रगान
जहां प्यार करने के लिए
दिल होने से ज्यादा गुंडा होना ज़रूरी है |
जहां 'सत्य' शब्द का इस्तेमाल
केवल अर्थी ले जाने पर किया जाता है |
जहां का राष्ट्रीय पशु कीचड़ में रहता है |
और राष्ट्रीय पुष्प भी कीचड़ में ही बहता है |
जहां के डॉक्टर थर्मामीटर पढ़ना नहीं जानते
और कुत्ते अपने बच्चों को नहीं पहचानते |
जहां का हर चोर प्रधानमंत्री बनना चाहता है |
और हर नेता अभिनेता; और हर अभिनेता नेता |
जहां की आज़ादी का जशन
ढोल ताशों संग मनाया जाता है
और अगले रोज़ गटर में बहता तिरंगा पाया जाता है |
जहां टीवी, रेडियो, फ्रीज रिश्ते तय करते हैं
और लड़की के हाथ की लकीरों को फाड़कर
उसमे खून की मेहंदी रच दी जाती है |
जहां के सरहद निर्दोषों के खून से रंग दिए जाते हैं
सीज़फायर के लिए |
जहां के श्रेष्ठ अस्पताल में मरीज़ मर जाता है
क्योंकि उसे रक्तदान करने वाला सूई से डर जाता है |
जहां के मजूर भूखे पेट मर जाते हैं
और उसके मालिक के कुत्ते बिस्कुट खाने से मुकर जाते हैं |
जहां के मध्यम वर्गीय लोग साले मरते न जीते हैं
खूंटे पर अपनी इज्ज़त को टांग, अपना ही खून पीते हैं |
जहां का बेटा प्यार में औन्धे मुंह इस कदर गड़ जाता है
माता पिता के सपनों से खेल, काठ सा अकड़ जाता है |
जहां लड़की के जन्म पर शोकगीत गाई जाती है
फिर उसके मौत पर गरीबों में कचौड़ी खिलाई जाती है
जहां मिट्टी के कीड़े, मिट्टी खाकर, मिट्टी उगलते हैं
फिर उसी मिट्टी पर छाती के बल चलते हैं |
जहां कागज़ पर क्षणों में फसल उगाए जाते हैं |
और उसी कागज़ में आगे कहीं वे
गरीबों में जिजीविषा भी बंटवाते हैं |
जहां चीख की भाषा छिछोरी हो गयी है
लेटेस्ट फैशन गालियों का है |
उस नपुंसक किन्तु सभ्य समाज में
कुछ कुत्तों के बीच घिरा अकेला कुत्ता
फिर भी चीखता है -
" घिन्न होती है सोचते हुए कि
छुटपन में मैंने कभी गाया था -
सारे जहाँ से अच्छा... "
-Sourav Roy "Bhagirath"
जहां प्यार करने के लिए
दिल होने से ज्यादा गुंडा होना ज़रूरी है |
जहां 'सत्य' शब्द का इस्तेमाल
केवल अर्थी ले जाने पर किया जाता है |
जहां का राष्ट्रीय पशु कीचड़ में रहता है |
और राष्ट्रीय पुष्प भी कीचड़ में ही बहता है |
जहां के डॉक्टर थर्मामीटर पढ़ना नहीं जानते
और कुत्ते अपने बच्चों को नहीं पहचानते |
जहां का हर चोर प्रधानमंत्री बनना चाहता है |
और हर नेता अभिनेता; और हर अभिनेता नेता |
जहां की आज़ादी का जशन
ढोल ताशों संग मनाया जाता है
और अगले रोज़ गटर में बहता तिरंगा पाया जाता है |
जहां टीवी, रेडियो, फ्रीज रिश्ते तय करते हैं
और लड़की के हाथ की लकीरों को फाड़कर
उसमे खून की मेहंदी रच दी जाती है |
जहां के सरहद निर्दोषों के खून से रंग दिए जाते हैं
सीज़फायर के लिए |
जहां के श्रेष्ठ अस्पताल में मरीज़ मर जाता है
क्योंकि उसे रक्तदान करने वाला सूई से डर जाता है |
जहां के मजूर भूखे पेट मर जाते हैं
और उसके मालिक के कुत्ते बिस्कुट खाने से मुकर जाते हैं |
जहां के मध्यम वर्गीय लोग साले मरते न जीते हैं
खूंटे पर अपनी इज्ज़त को टांग, अपना ही खून पीते हैं |
जहां का बेटा प्यार में औन्धे मुंह इस कदर गड़ जाता है
माता पिता के सपनों से खेल, काठ सा अकड़ जाता है |
जहां लड़की के जन्म पर शोकगीत गाई जाती है
फिर उसके मौत पर गरीबों में कचौड़ी खिलाई जाती है
जहां मिट्टी के कीड़े, मिट्टी खाकर, मिट्टी उगलते हैं
फिर उसी मिट्टी पर छाती के बल चलते हैं |
जहां कागज़ पर क्षणों में फसल उगाए जाते हैं |
और उसी कागज़ में आगे कहीं वे
गरीबों में जिजीविषा भी बंटवाते हैं |
जहां चीख की भाषा छिछोरी हो गयी है
लेटेस्ट फैशन गालियों का है |
उस नपुंसक किन्तु सभ्य समाज में
कुछ कुत्तों के बीच घिरा अकेला कुत्ता
फिर भी चीखता है -
" घिन्न होती है सोचते हुए कि
छुटपन में मैंने कभी गाया था -
सारे जहाँ से अच्छा... "
-Sourav Roy "Bhagirath"
Its Dengue Which is Killing!!
Every day as I scan through the news sites I get to read more and more about H1N1. And every time this happens I get more and more frustrated with the way things are portrayed in the media. Since June this year we at Sankalp are having a horrible time. This is because of the unprecedented rise in the number of people suffering from dengue. Out of the few hundred requests for blood we have seen in last few weeks, we have come across 4 people who failed to get sufficient blood on time. All four of them were suffering from dengue! We have been working closely with emergency services since last 6 years. Never have we seen a particular disease take this high toll. Blood banks are out of platelets and each day scores of people are getting infected with the dengue virus. Still, I could find little news about the viral. Hardly anyone reported the fact that the disease is spreading more each day. The media failed to take notice of the immense shortage of platelets in the blood banks. Life just seemed to be so normal. With a mortality rate of dengue known to be close to 5% (Source: http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Dengue-and-Chikungunya-3A-The-Dirge-of-a-Nation-14892-2/) it is not something that the nation should have been ignoring so blatantly. Think of it.
Dengue Prevalence:
H1N1 Prevalence:
- get to hear too much about the prevalence of dengue?
- hear about how to save yourself from dengue?
- See anyone taking steps to kill mosquitoes with an increased sense of urgency?
It will be a surprise to me if your answer is ‘yes’ for the above questions. If it is dengue, or if it is Chikungunya, it is just another infection that comes each year and kills a few from the billion that live in this nation.
Then H1N1 came. Switch on a news channel and you get to hear about it. Every child in the nation has been scared of this new viral infection. The general feeling in the public is that soon H1N1 is going to wipe the chunk of the civilization away! With all this ho halla, the media and the Government sweeping into action, no stone is being left unturned to overdo the preparedness to the level that the caution converts into fear and the fear makes way for horror! Masks are being sold at 10 times the price. School assemblies are cancelled. Tension is in the air. Each death that can remotely be linked to swine flu is being aired by the media with the minutest of detail.
It is not bad to prepare, but doing this for swine flu when the doctors claim that it is just flu but a more contagious variety of it is what I question. The mortality rate of H1N1 is less than 0.01% to 0.4%. This is pathetically low compared to several other season outbreaks of disease in our nation. Why then is swine flu getting all the attention?
I think I know the answer. And I am presenting the answer to you in two images that I have picked below:
Dengue Prevalence:
H1N1 Prevalence:
I know my answer now. Dengue has assumed a low profile just because it is not prevalent in the US and Europe. H1N1 is the talk of the town because it is what concerns the developed world!
CAUTION: Please do not see this article as underestimating H1N1. It is an attempt to highlight the issue that has been grossly disregarded. I hope and pray for the day when the Government and Media of our nation acts on the needs of the country rather than blindly following their western counterparts!
In-fact with the news reports about H1N1, we are heading towards a situation where a large number of people may die. Not because of the virus itself, but because of the fear, because of people not donating blood!
-Rajat Aggarwal
(Visit- http://www.sankalpindia.net)
The Rising
"let us declare that the state of war does exist & shall exist so long as the Indian toiling masses & the natural resources are being exploited by a handful of parasites. They may be purely British capatilists or mixed British and Indian or even purely Indian."
-Bhagat Singh
(In his leter to the Punjab Governor;
"No Hanging, Please Shoot Us")
-Bhagat Singh
(In his leter to the Punjab Governor;
"No Hanging, Please Shoot Us")
I like articles and fiction more than newspaper. Newspapers crib. My understanding of today shouts on me that we need to rise up! Rising means a change, the greatest revolution of all times. A revolution that is not decided over meetings or dipped in bloodshed. BUT Revolution in the most regular things we do. Revolution in way we walk on streets. Stop cursing the municipality for a road blockage. Is it just their job because they are paid for doing it? It is an opportunity for everyone else! A privilege! Changes in the most basic things we do, may it be donating blood, or casting our vote. Let this revolution live! Live long. Live forever! Revolution is first within. We must learn to walk alone; each one of us!
Patriotic Rafi Saheb
It was a one of the best patriotic song of Hindi Film Music. Rafi Saheb in his golden voice wonderfully describes the unique and prosperous natural, cultural, social characteristics of our country in the song from Kedar Kapoor’s SIKANDAR-E-AZAM (1965), composed by Hansraj Bhel in the great lyrics of Qamar Jalalabadi and the song was picturised on Prem Nath and Prem Chopra.
I was listening to a few AR Rehman songs, when I realized that Mohd. Rafi is no less when it comes to patriotism through music. These are the songs we sing together when we celebrate the glory of the cause we work for- our motherland. This is a tribute to the great man; Mohd. Rafi!
In 1948, Rafi Saheb was distinguished for the singing the song “Suno Suno Aye Duniya Waaloon Bapuji Ki Amar Kahini” after premature demise of Mahatma Gandhi, written by Rajendra Krishan and composed by Husanlal Bhagatram. In the same year, Rafi Saheb got a silver medal from Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru on the Indian Independence Day. Mohammed Rafi  lent his golden voice for most of the inspiring patriotic songs of Hindi Film Music in the films like Jagriti (1954), Naya Daur(1957), Phool Bane Angaare (1963), Haqeeqat(1964), Leader(1964), Shahed(1965), Aakhen(1968), Lalkaar(1972), Hindustan Ki Kasam(1973), Badla Aur Balidan(1980) and Desh Premee(1981).
Shashadhar Mukherjee’s JAGRITI (The Awakening), written and directed by Satyen Bose is still remembered for its patriotic songs composed by Hemant Kumar in the lyrics of Pradeep. The Rafi number from the film, “Hum Laaye Hain Toofan Se Kashti Nikaal Ke, Is Desh Ko Rakhna Meri Bachoo Sambhal Ke” is a very cultured advice from a teacher played by Abhi Bhatacharjee to his students to became model citizens. The film won the Filmfare Best Movie Award in 1956 and Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award to Abhi Bhatacharjee.B.R. Chopra’s golden jubilee hit, NAYA DAUR had “Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawanon Ka” by Rafi & Balbir picturised on Dilip Kumar & Ajit describing the heroic talent of our Army and People. Another duet from the film, by Rafi-Asha “Saathi Haath Badhana, Ek Akela Thak Jayee Tu Milkar Booj Uthana” is a well idea of joint effort for our labour force for development of Nation and the Country.
The Hindi-Urdu war film HAQEEQAT based on the 1962 Sino-Indian war, written & directed by Chetan Anand had became indistinguishable with patriotism in India because of notable Mohammed Rafi song “Kaar Chalee Hum Fida Jaan-O-Taan Saathiyon, Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon” composed by Madan Mohan in the lyrics of Kaifi Azmi. The film won the National Award for Second Best Feature Film in 1965.
The Rafi gems from Suraj Prakash’s PHOOL BANE ANGAARE, “Watan Pe Jo Fida Hoga Amar Wo Naujawaan Hoga, Rehegi Jab Talak Duniyaa Yeh Afsana Bayaan Hoga” depicts the immortality of soldiers who scarified their life for the country in the battle. The song was beautifully composed by Kalyanji-Anandji in the lyrics of Anand Bakshi which was picturised on Raaj Kumar.
“Apni Azadi Ko Hum Hargis Mita Sakte Nahin” from LEADER sung by Rafi Saheb under composition of Naushad beautifully portrays the daring and fearless endeavour of our freedom fighters. The song was picturised on thespian Dilip Kumar.
The songs from the film SHAHEED, “Aye Watan Aye Watan Humko Teri Kasam” & “O Mera Rang De Basanti Chola” picturised on Manoj Kumar and “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai” & “Pagadi Sambhal Jatha” picturised on Prem Chopra & Anand Kumar respectively are the Rafi Saheb’s genuine salute to the freedom fighters of the country who scarified their life for motherland. The film was a debut of composer Prem Dhawan which was too first film to win three National Awards.
“Aaj Ga Lo Mushkuraloo Mehfilee Sazaloo, Kiya Jane Kaal Koi Saathi Sooth Jayee, Jeevan Ke Door Badi Kamjoor, Kiskoo Khabar Hai Kaha Tut Jayee” by Rafi & Chorus from Ramanand Sagar’s LALKAAR picturised in a defence party which portrays the uncertainty of life of defence people in particular and they may lost their live at any point of time defending the country from enemy.
Chetan Anand’s another war film describing the Indian Air Force’s role in 1971 Indo Pak War, HINDUSTAN KI KASAM starts and ends with the title song “Hindustan Ki Kasam, Na Jukhengee Saar Watan Ke, Haar Jawan Ki Kasam” sung by Mohd. Rafi & Manna Dey. The song composed by Madan Mohan speak well of our defence system. Another title song from Ramanand Sagar’s AAKHEN “Us Mulk Ki Sarhaad Ko Koi Chu Nahin Sakta, Jis Mulk Ki Sarhad Ki Nigebaan Hai Aakhen” sung by Rafi Saheb portrays rigid defence organism of India. Both the title song was played in the background of the film.
The Rafi song from Swarn Singh Kanwar’s BADLA AUR BALIDAN “Meri Laash Ki Mitti Kharab Na Hoo, Ise Aake Thikanee Laga Dena” is an indirect appeal of our freedom fighters to the defence people to save the soil and nation from the adversary. The song was composed by Sonik Omi and it was picturised on Rajendra Kumar.
Above all the last and superb number of this category, sung by our beloved Rafi Saheb is from Manmohan Desai’s Desh Premee:- Nafarat Ki Lathi Tadoo………….Lalas Ki Khanjar Phakoo………….Zidd Ke Pechee Mat Dauroo…….Mere Desh Premiyo Apas Mein Prem Kare Desh Premiyo…………..
The song was picturised on Mega Star Amitabh Bachchan in a plot of communal harmony among four communities: Punjabi, Gujrati, Bengali and Muslim lived in a sub-urban area. The roles of four communal leaders are played by Shammi Kapoor (Punjabi), Premnath (Gujrati), Uttam Kumar (Bengali) and Parikhit Sahani (Muslim).
Mahendra Kapoor, the first ever singer inspired by Mohammed Rafi, is famous for rendering of the most of patriotic songs picturised on the actor Manoj Kumar for which the actor felicitated the title of Mr. Bharat or Bharat Kumar and his brand of patriotism started from Shaheed with voice of Rafi. His most famous patriotic song was “Meri Desh Ki Dharti, Sona Ugle , Ugle Heere Moti” picturised on Manoj Kumar in the film UPKAAR for which the singer won the National Film Award in 1968 for Best Male Playback Singer and Second Best Feature Film Award to director Manoj Kumar . His other notable patriotic songs are: “Na Moonh Chhupa Ke Jiyo” from HUMRAAZ, “Bharat Ka Rehnewala Hoon” from PURAB AUR PASCHIM, “Woh Kaun Hai Jo Maa Ki Tarah Booj Uthayee Palkoo Mein Bethayee, Yehi Dharti Yehi Dharti” from GAANWAR, “Aandhi Aaye Ki Toofan Koyee Gam Nahin” from SAAT HINDUSTANI, “Aur Nahin Bas Aur Nahin” from ROTI KAPADA AUR MAKAAN and “Ab Ke Baras Tujhe Dharti Ke Rani” & “Kranti Kranti” from KRANTI.
“Honthon Pe Sachchai Rehti Hain, Jaha Dil Mein Safai Rehi Hain” from JIS DESH MEIN GANGA BEHTI HAI and “Chodo Kaal Ki Baatein, Kaal Ki Baat Purani, Hum Hindusthani” from HUM HINDUSTANI are the remarkable patriotic songs sung by Mukesh Chand Mathur. His light popular number from SREE 420, “Mera Joota Hai Japani, Yeh Patlung Englishthani, Saar Pe Laal Toopi Ruchi, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindusthani” had also feelings of patriotism.
The JAGRITI number “Aao Bachhon Tumhen Dikhaaye” by lyricist cum singer Pradeep, “Insaf Ki Dagar Pe” from GANGA JAMUNA by Hemant Kumar, “Aye Mere Pyare Watan” from KABULIWALLA & “Taqat Watan Ki Humse Hai” from PREM PUJARI by Manna Dey, “Nanna Munna Rahi Hoon, Desh Ka Sipahi Hoon” from SON OF INDIA by Shanti Mathur, “De Di Hamein Azadi Bina Khadak Bina Dhaal” from JAGRITI by Asha Bhonsle, “Dekho Veer Jawano Apne Khoon Pe” from AAKRAMAN by Kishore Kumar, “Sare Jahan Se Achchha” from BADI BEHAN by Lata Mangeshkar are also notable patriotic songs of Hindi Film Music. “Vande Matram” and “Ai Mere Watan Ke Logon” sung by Lata Mangeshkar are famous non-film patriotic songs.
From mid 1980s, the subject of patriotism or national integration became out of fashion from Hindi Film and Hindi Film Music. However, the film makers like J.P. Dutta, Subhash Ghai continues to make films on the subject of patriotism by taking risk of commercial failure.”Dil Diya Hai Jaan Bhi Dengee, Aye Watan Tere Liye” sung by Mohd. Aziz & Kavita Krishnamurty from Ghai’s KARMA (1986), was became undying. “Sandse Aate Hain, Hume Tarpate Hain” from Dutta’s BORDER (1997) is the last remarkable & popular patriotic song of Hindi Film Music, sung by Sonu Nigam & Roopkumar Rathod under compositions of Annu Malik in the lyrics of Javed Akhther.
The milestone patriotic songs of Mohammed Rafi and Mahendra Kapoor are being everlasting, still very popular in All India Radio and National TV Channels and also have the sense of hearing in all the corners of the country during the Independence Day, Republic Day and any other public functions. The songs facilitate in inspiring the pure feelings of nationalism or national integration whenever we hear them.
Rafi’s voice will always live on. As also his freshness and enthusiastic approach to life.
Lets not forget these masterpieces…
Why I Am An Atheist
In the first place, I have altogether failed to comprehend as to how undue pride or vain-gloriousness could ever stand in the way of a man in believing in God. I can refuse to recognize the greatness of a really great man provided I have also achieved a certain amount of popularity without deserving it or without having possessed the qualities really essential or indispensable for the same purpose. That much is conceivable. But in what way can a man believing in God cease believing due to his personal vanity? There are only two Ways. The man should either begin to think himself a rival of God or he may begin to believe himself to be God. In neither case can he become a genuine atheist. In the first case he does not even deny the existence of his rival. In the second case as well he admits the existence of a conscious being behind the screen guiding all the movements of nature. It is of no importance to us whether he thinks himself to be that supreme being or whether he thinks the supreme conscious being to be somebody apart from himself. The fundamental is there. His belief is there. He is by no means an atheist. Well, here I am I neither belong to the first category nor to the second.
I deny the very existence of that Almighty Supreme being. Why I deny it shall be dealt with later on. Here I want to clear one thing, that it is not vanity that has actuated me to adopt the doctrines of atheism. I am neither a rival nor an incarnation nor the Supreme Being Himself. One point is decided, that it is not vanity that has led me to this mode of thinking. Let me examine the facts to disprove this allegation. According to these friends of mine I have grown vain-glorious perhaps due to the undue popularity gained during the trials-both Delhi Bomb and Lahore conspiracy cases. Well, let us see if their premises are correct. My atheism is not of so recent origin. I had stopped believing in God when I was an obscure young man, of whose existence my above mentioned friends were not even aware. At least a college student cannot cherish any short of undue pride which may lead him to atheism. Though a favorite with some professors and disliked by certain others, I was never an industrious or a studious boy. I could not get any chance of indulging in such feelings as vanity. I was rather a boy with a very shy nature, who had certain pessimistic dispositions about the future career. And in those days, I was not a perfect atheist. My grand-father under whose influence I was brought up is an orthodox Arya Samajist. An Arya Samajist is anything but an atheist. After finishing my primary education I joined the DAV. School of Lahore and stayed in its Boarding House for full one year. There, apart from morning and evening prayers, I used to recite "Gayatri Mantra" for hours and hours. I was a perfect devotee in those days. Later on I began to live with my father. He is a liberal in as much as the orthodoxy of religions is concerned. It was through his teachings that I aspired to devote my life to the cause of freedom. But he is not an atheist. He is a firm believer. He used to encourage me for offering prayers daily. So, this is how I was brought up. In the Non-Co-operation days I joined the National College. it was there that I began to think liberally and discuss and criticize all the religious problems, even about God. But still I was a devout believer. By that time I had begun to preserve the unshorn and unclipped long hair but I could never believe in the mythology and doctrines of Sikhism or, any other religion. But I had a firm faith in God's existence.
Later on I joined the revolutionary party. The first leader with whom I came in contact, though not convinced, could not dare to deny the existence of God. On my persistent inquiries about God, he used to say, "Pray whenever you want to". Now this is atheism less courage required for the adoption of that creed. The second leader with whom I came in contact was a firm believer. Let me mention his name-respected comrade Sachindra Nath Sanyal, now undergoing life transportation in connexion with the Karachi conspiracy case. From the every first page of his famous and only book, "Bandi Jivan" (or Incarcerated Life), the Glory of God is sung vehemently. In the last page of the second part of that beautiful book his mystic-because of Vedantism – praises showered upon God form a very conspicuous part of his thoughts.
"The Revolutionary leaflet" distributed- throughout India on January 28th, 1925, was according to the prosecution story the result of his intellectual labor, Now, as is inevitable in the secret work the prominent leader expresses his own views, which are very dear to his person and the rest of the workers have to acquiesce in them-in spite of differences, which they might have. In that leaflet one full paragraph was devoted to praise the Almighty and His rejoicings and doing. That is all mysticism. What I wanted to point out was that the idea of disbelief had not even germinated in the revolutionary party. The famous Kakori martyrs –all four of them-passed their last day in prayers. Ram Prasad Bismil was an orthodox Arya Samajist. Despite his wide studies in the field of Socialism and Communism, Rajen Lahiri could not suppress his desire, of reciting hymns of the Upanishads and the Gita. I saw only one man amongst them, who never prayed and used to say, "Philosophy is the outcome of human weakness or limitation of knowledge". He is also undergoing a sentence of transportation for life. But he also never dared to deny the existence of God.
UP to that period I was only a romantic idealist revolutionary. Uptil then we were to follow. Now came the time to shoulder the whole responsibility. Due to the inevitable reaction for some time the very existence of the Party seemed impossible. Enthusiastic comrades – nay leaders – began to jeer at us. For some time I was afraid that some day I also might not be convinced of the futility of our own program. That was a turning point in my revolutionary career. "Study" was the cry that reverberated in the corridors of my mind. Study to enable yourself to face the arguments advanced by opposition. Study to arm yourself with arguments in favor of your cult. I began to study. My previous faith and convictions underwent a remarkable modification. The Romance of the violent methods alone which was so prominent amongst our predecessors, was replaced by serious ideas. No more mysticism, no more blind faith. Realism became our cult. Use of force justifiable when resorted to as a matter of terrible necessity: non-violence as policy indispensable for all mass movements. So much about methods.
The most important thing was the clear conception of the ideal for which we were to fight, As there were no important activities in the field of action I got ample opportunity to study various ideals of the world revolution. I studied Bakunin, the Anarchist leader, something of Marx the father of Communism and much of Lenin, Trotsky and others the men who had successfully carried out a revolution in their country. They were all atheists. Bakunin's "God and State", though only fragmentary, is an interesting study of the subject. Later still I came across a book entitled 'Common Sense' by Nirlamba Swami. It was only a sort of mystic atheism. This subject became of utmost interest to me. By the end of 1926 I had been convinced as to the baselessness of the theory of existence of an almighty supreme being who created, guided and controlled the universe. I had given out this disbelief of mine. I began discussion on the subjects with my friends. I had become a pronounced atheist. But, what it meant will presently be discussed.
In May 1927 I was arrested at Lahore. The arrest was a surprise. I was quite unaware of (he fact that the police wanted me. All of a sudden while passing through a garden I found myself surrounded by police. To my own surprise, I was very calm at that time. I did not feel any sensation, neither did I experience any excitement. I was taken into police custody. Next day I was taken to the Railway Police lock-up where I was to pass full one month. After many day's conversation with the Police officials I guessed that they had some information regarding my connexion with the Kakori Party and my other activities in connexion with the revolutionary movement. They told me that I had been to Lucknow while the trial was going on there, that I had negotiated a certain scheme about their rescue, that after obtaining their approval, we had procured some bombs, that by way of test one of the bombs was thrown in the crowd on the occasion of Dussehra 1926. They further informed me, in my interest, that if I could give any statement throwing some light on the activities of the revolutionary party, I was not to be imprisoned but on the contrary set free and rewarded even without being produced as an approver in the Court. I laughed at the proposal. It was all humbug.
People holding ideas like ours do not throw bombs on their own innocent people. One fine morning Mr. Newman, the then Senior Superintendent of CID., came to me. And after much sympathetic talk with me imparted-to him-the extremely sad news that if I did not give any statement as demanded by them, they would be forced to send me up for trial for conspiracy to wage war in connexion with Kakori Case and for brutal murders in connexion with Dussehra Bomb outrage. And he further informed me that they had evidence enough to get me convicted and hanged.
In those days I believed – though I was quite innocent – the police could do it if they desired. That very day certain police officials began to persuade me to offer my prayers to God regularly both the times. Now I was an atheist. I wanted to settle for myself whether it was in the days of peace and enjoyment alone that I could boast of being an atheist or whether during such hard times as well I could stick to those principles of mine. After great consideration I decided that I could not lead myself to believe in and pray to God. No, I never did. That was the real test and I came, out successful. Never for a moment did I desire to save my neck at the cost of certain other things. So I was a staunch disbeliever : and have ever since been. It was not an easy job to stand that test.
'Belief' softens the hardships, even can make them pleasant. In God man can find very strong consolation and support. Without Him, the man has to depend upon himself. To stand upon one's own legs amid storms and hurricanes is not a child's play. At such testing moments, vanity, if any, evaporates, and man cannot dare to defy the general beliefs, if he does, then we must conclude that he has got certain other strength than mere vanity. This is exactly the situation now. Judgment is already too well known. Within a week it is to be pronounced. What is the consolation with the exception of the idea that I am going to sacrifice my life for a cause ? A God-believing Hindu might be expecting to be reborn as a king, a Muslim or a Christian might dream of the luxuries to be- enjoyed in paradise and the reward he is to get for his sufferings and sacrifices. But what am I to expect? I know the moment the rope is fitted round my neck and rafters removed, from under my feet. That will be the final moment, that will be the last moment. I, or to be more precise, my soul, as interpreted in the metaphysical terminology, shall all be finished there. Nothing further.
A short life of struggle with no such magnificent end, shall in itself be the reward if I have the courage to take it in that light. That is all. With no selfish motive, or desire to be awarded here or hereafter, quite disinterestedly have I devoted my life to the cause of independence, because I could not do otherwise. The day we find a great number of men and women with this psychology who cannot devote themselves to anything else than the service of mankind and emancipation of the suffering humanity; that day shall inaugurate the era of liberty.
Not to become a king, nor to gain any other rewards here, or in the next birth or after death in paradise, shall they be inspired to challenge the oppressors, exploiters, and tyrants, but to cast off the yoke of serfdom from the neck of humanity and to establish liberty and peace shall they tread this-to their individual selves perilous and to their noble selves the only glorious imaginable-path. Is the pride in their noble cause to be – misinterpreted as vanity? Who dares to utter such an abominable epithet? To him, I say either he is a fool or a knave. Let us forgive him for he can not realize the depth, the emotion, the sentiment and the noble feelings that surge in that heart. His heart is dead as a mere lump of flesh, his eyes are-weak, the evils of other interests having been cast over them. Self-reliance is always liable to be interpreted as vanity. It is sad and miserable but there is no help.
You go and oppose the prevailing faith, you go and criticize a hero, a great man, who is generally believed to be above criticism because he is thought to be infallible, the strength of your argument shall force the multitude to decry you as vainglorious. This is due to the mental stagnation, Criticism and independent thinking are the two indispensable qualities of a revolutionary. Because Mahatamaji is great, therefore none should criticize him. Because he has risen above, therefore everything he says-may be in the field of Politics or Religion, Economics or Ethics-is right. Whether you are convinced or not you must say, "Yes, that's true". This mentality does not lead towards progress. It is rather too obviously, reactionary.
Because our forefathers had set up a faith in some supreme, being – the Almighty God – therefore any man who dares to challenge the validity of that faith, or the very existence of that supreme being, he shall have to be called an apostate, a renegade. If his arguments are too sound to be refuted by counter-arguments and spirit too strong to be cowed down by the threat of misfortunes that may befall him by the wrath of the Almighty, he shall be decried as vainglorious, his spirit to be denominated as vanity. Then why to waste time in this vain discussion? Why try to argue out the whole thing? This question is coming before the public for the first time, and is being handled in this matter of fact way for the first time, hence this lengthy discussion.
As for the first question, I think I have cleared that it is not vanity that has led me to atheism. My way of argument has proved to be convincing or not, that is to be judged by my readers, not me. I know in the present, circumstances my faith in God would have made my life easier, my burden lighter and my disbelief in Him has turned all the circumstances too dry and the situation may assume too harsh a shape. A little bit of mysticism can make it poetical. But I, do not want the help of any intoxication to meet my fate. I am a realist. I have been trying to overpower the instinct in me by the help of reason. I have not always been successful in achieving this end. But man's duty is to try and endeavor, success depends upon chance and environments.
As for the second question that if it was not vanity, then there ought to be some reason to disbelieve the old and still prevailing faith of the existence of God. Yes; I come to that now Reason there is. According to. me, any man who has got some reasoning power at his command always tries to reason out his environments. Where direct proofs are lacking philosophy occupies the important place. As I have already stated, a certain revolutionary friend used to say that Philosophy is the outcome of human weakness. When our ancestors had leisure enough to try to solve out the mystery of this world, its past, present and the future, its whys and wherefores, they having been terribly short of direct proofs, everybody tried to solve the problem in his own way. Hence we find the wide differences in the fundamentals of various religious creeds, which some times assume very antagonistic and conflicting shapes. Not only the Oriental and Occidental philosophies differ, there are differences even amongst various schools of thoughts in each hemisphere. Amongst Oriental religions, the Moslem faith is not at all compatible with Hindu faith. In India alone Buddhism and Jainism are sometimes quite separate from Brahmanism, in which there are again conflicting faiths as Arya Samaj and Sanatan Dharma. Charwak is still another independent thinker of the past ages. He challenged the authority of God in the old times. All these creeds differ from each other on the fundamental question., and everybody considers himself to be on the right. There lies the misfortune. Instead of using the experiments and expressions of the ancient Savants and thinkers as a basis for our future struggle against ignorance and to try to find out a solution to this mysterious problem, we – lethargical as we have proved to be – raise the hue and cry of faith, unflinching and unwavering faith to their versions and thus are guilty of stagnation in human progress.
Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item by item he has to reason out every nook and corner of the prevailing faith. If after considerable reasoning one is led to believe in any theory or philosophy, his faith is welcomed. His reasoning can be mistaken, wrong, misled and sometimes fallacious. But he is liable to correction because reason is the guiding star of his life. But mere faith and blind faith is dangerous: it dulls the brain, and makes a man reactionary.
A man who claims to be a realist has to challenge the whole of the ancient faith. If it does not stand the onslaught of reason it crumbles down. Then the first thing for him is to shatter the whole down and clear a space for the erection of a new philosophy. This is the negative side. After it begins the positive work in which sometimes some material of the old faith may be used for the purpose of reconstruction. As far as I am concerned, let me admit at the very outset that I have not been able to study much on this point. I had a great desire to study the Oriental Philosophy but I could not get any chance or opportunity to do the same. But so far as the negative study is under discussion, I think I am convinced to the extent of questioning the soundness of the old faith. I have been convinced as to non-existence of a conscious supreme being who is guiding and directing the movements of nature. We believe in nature and the whole progressive movement aims at the domination of man over nature for his service. There is no conscious power behind it to direct. This is what our philosophy is.
As for the negative side. we ask a few questions from the 'believers'.
If, as you believe, there is an almighty, omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God-who created the earth or world, please let me know why did he create it ? This world of woes and miseries, a veritable, eternal combination of numberless tragedies: Not a single soul being perfectly satisfied.
Pray, don't say that it is His Law: If he is bound by any law, he is not omnipotent. He is another slave like ourselves. Please don't say that it is his enjoyment. Nero burnt one Rome. He killed a very limited number of people. He created very few tragedies, all to his perfect enjoyment. And what is his place in History? By what names do the historians mention him? All the venomous epithets are showered upon him. Pages are blackened with invective diatribes condemning Nero, the tyrant, the heartless, the wicked.
One Changezkhan sacrificed a few thousand lives to seek pleasure in it and we hate the very name. Then how are you going to justify your almighty, eternal Nero, who has been, and is still causing numberless tragedies every day, every hour and every minute? How do you think to support his misdoings which surpass those of Changez every single moment? I say why did he create this world – a veritable hell, a place of constant and bitter unrest? Why did the Almighty create man when he had the power not to do it? What is the justification for all this ? Do you say to award the innocent sufferers hereafter and to punish the wrong-doers as well? Well, well: How far shall you justify a man who may dare to inflict wounds upon your body to apply a very soft and soothing liniment upon it afterwards? How far the supporters and organizers of the Gladiator Institution were justified in throwing men before the half starved furious lions to be cared for and well looked after if they could survive and could manage to escape death by the wild beasts? That is why I ask, 'Why did the conscious supreme being created this world and man in it? To seek pleasure? Where then is the difference between him and Nero'?
You Mohammadens and Christians : Hindu Philosophy shall still linger on to offer another argument. I ask you what is your answer to the above-mentioned question? You don't believe in previous birth. Like Hindus you cannot advance the argument of previous misdoings of the apparently quite innocent sufferers? I ask you why did the omnipotent labor for six days to create the world through word and each day to say that all was well. Call him today. Show him the past history. Make him study the present situation. Let us see if he dares to say, "All is well".
From the dungeons of prisons, from the stores of starvation consuming millions upon millions of human beings in slums and huts, from the exploited laborers, patiently or say apathetically watching the procedure of their blood being sucked by the Capitalist vampires, and the wastage of human energy that will make a man with the least common sense shiver with horror, and from the preference of throwing the surplus of production in oceans rather than to distribute amongst the needy producers…to the palaces of kings built upon the foundation laid with human bones.... let him see all this and let him say "All is well".
Why and wherefore? That is my question. You are silent.
All right then, I proceed. Well, you Hindus, you say all the present sufferers belong to the class of sinners of the previous births. Good. You say the present oppressors were saintly people in their previous births, hence they enjoy power. Let me admit that your ancestors were very shrewd people, they tried to find out theories strong enough to hammer down all the efforts of reason and disbelief. But let us analyze how far this argument can really stand.
From the point of view of the most famous jurists punishment can be justified only from three or four ends to meet which it is inflicted upon the wrongdoer. They are retributive, reformative and deterrent. The retributive theory is now being condemned by all the advanced thinkers. Deterrent theory is also following the same fate. Reformative theory is the only one which is essential, and indispensable for human progress. It aims at returning the offender as a most competent and a peace-loving citizen to the society. But what is the nature of punishment inflicted by God upon men even if we suppose them to be offenders. You say he sends them to be born as a cow, a cat, a tree, a herb or a best. You enumerate these punishments to be 84 lakhs. I ask you what is its reformative effect upon man? How many men have met you who say that they were born as a donkey in previous birth for having committed any sin? None. Don't quote your Puranas. I have no scope to touch your mythologies. Moreover do you know that the greatest sin in this world is to be poor. Poverty is a sin, it is a punishment.
I ask you how far would you appreciate a criminologist, a jurist or a legislator who proposes such measures of punishment which shall inevitably force man to commit more offences? Had not your God thought of this or he also had to learn these things by experience, but at the cost of untold sufferings to be borne by humanity? What do you think shall be the fate of a man who has been born in a poor and illiterate family of say a chamar or a sweeper. He is poor, hence he cannot study. He is hated and shunned by his fellow human beings who think themselves to be his superiors having been born in say a higher caste. His ignorance, his poverty and the treatment meted out to him shall harden his heart towards society. Suppose he commits a sin, who shall bear the consequences? God, he or the learned ones of, the society? What about the punishment of those people who were deliberately kept ignorant by the haughty and egotist Brahmans and who had to pay the penalty by bearing the stream of being led (not lead) in their ears for having heard a few sentences of your Sacred Books of learning-the Vedas? If they committed any offence-who was to be responsible for them and who was to bear the brunt? My dear friends: These theories are the inventions of the privileged ones: They justify their usurped power, riches and superiority by the help of these theories. Yes: It was perhaps Upton Sinclair, that wrote at some place, that just make a man a believer in immortality and then rob him of all his riches, and possessions. He shall help you even in that ungrudgingly. The coalition amongst the religious preachers and possessors of power brought forth jails, gallows, knouts and these theories.
I ask why your omnipotent God, does not stop every man when he is committing any sin or offence? He can do it quite easily. Why did he not kill war lords or kill the fury of war in them and thus avoid the catastrophe hurled down on the head of humanity by the Great War? Why does he not just produce a certain sentiment in the mind of the British people to liberate India? Why does he not infuse the altruistic enthusiasm in the hearts of all capitalists to forgo their rights of personal possessions of means of production and thus redeem the whole laboring community – nay the whole human society from the bondage of Capitalism. You want to reason out the practicability of socialist theory, I leave it for your almighty to enforce it.
People recognize the merits of socialism in as much as the general welfare is concerned. They oppose it under the pretext of its being impracticable. Let the Almighty step in and arrange everything in an orderly fashion. Now don't try to advance round about arguments, they are out of order. Let me tell you, British rule is here not because God wills it but because they possess power and we do not dare to oppose them. Not that it is with the help of God that they are keeping us under their subjection but it is with the help of guns and rifles, bomb and bullets, police and millitia and our apathy that they are successfully committing the most deplorable sin against society- the outrageous exploitation of one nation by another. Where is God ? What is he doing? Is he enjoying all I these woes of human race ? A Nero; A Changez : Down with him.
Do you ask me how I explain the origin of this world and origin of man? Alright I tell you. Charles Darwin has tried to throw some light on the subject. Study him. Read Soham Swami's "Commonsense". It shall answer your question to some extent. This is a phenomenon of nature. The accidental mixture of different substances in the shape of nebulae produced this earth. When? Consult history. The same process produced animals and in the long run man. Read Darwin's 'Origin of Species'. And all the later progress is due to man's constant conflict with nature and his efforts to override it. This is the briefest possible explanation of this phenomenon.
Your other argument may be just to ask why a child is born blind or lame if not due to his deeds committed in the previous birth? This problem has been explained away by biologists as a more biological phenomenon. According to them the whole burden rests upon the shoulders of the parents who may be conscious or ignorant of their own deeds led to mutilation of the child previous to its birth.
Naturally you may ask another question though it is quite childish in essence. If no God existed, how did the people come to believe in him? My answer is clear and brief. As they came to believe in ghosts, and evil spirits; the only difference is that belief in God is almost universal and the philosophy well developed. Unlike certain of the radicals I would not attribute its origin to the ingenuity of the exploiters who wanted to keep the people under their subjection by preaching the existence of a supreme being and then claiming an authority and sanction from him for their privileged positions. Though I do not differ with them on the essential point that all faiths, religions, creeds and such other institutions became in turn the mere supporters of the tyrannical and exploiting institutions, men and classes. Rebellion against king is always a sin according to every religion.
As regards the origin of God my own idea is that having realized the limitations of man, his weaknesses and shortcoming having been taken into consideration, God was brought into imaginary existence to encourage man to face boldly all the trying circumstances, to meet all dangers manfully and to check and restrain his outbursts in prosperity and affluence. God both with his private laws and parental generosity was imagined and painted in greater details. He was to serve as a deterrent factor when his fury and private laws were discussed so that man may not become a danger to society. He was to serve as a father, mother, sister and brother, friend and helpers when his parental qualifications were to be explained. So that when man be in great distress having been betrayed and deserted by all friends he may find consolation in the idea that an ever true friend was still there to help him, to support him and that He was almighty and could do anything. Really that was useful to the society in the primitive age.
The idea of God is helpful to man in distress.
Society has to fight out this belief as well as was fought the idol worship and the narrow conception of religion. Similarly, when man tries to stand on his own legs, and become a realist he shall have to throw the faith aside, and to face manfully all the distress, trouble, in which the circumstances may throw him. That is exactly my state of affairs. It is not my vanity, my friends. It is my mode of thinking that has made me an atheist. I don't know whether in my case belief in God and offering of daily prayers which I consider to be most selfish and degraded act on the part of man, whether these prayers can prove to be helpful or they shall make my case worse still. I have read of atheists facing all troubles quite boldly, so am I trying to stand like a man with an erect head to the last; even on the gallows.
Let us see how I carry on : one friend asked me to pray. When informed of my atheism, he said, "During your last days you will begin to believe". I said, No, dear Sir, it shall not be. I will think that to be an act of degradation and demoralization on my part. For selfish motives I am not going to pray. Readers and friends, "Is this vanity"? If it is, I stand for it.
-Bhagat Singh
(1930)
Power Of Shared Vision
There is a story that one day Shah Jahan wanted to know how the Taj Mahal was progressing. To find out he disguised himself as an old man and he went to the site by the Yamuna river. There he came across a stonecutter, whom he asked "What are you doing?" The stone cutter was annoyed by the disturbance and said, "Go away old man, don't you see that I'm busy?" The stonecutter's dedication impressed Shah Jahan. He went to the next stone cutter, and he was equally impatient and he told the disguised emperor, "Cutting stone is a great art, old man, and I can't be answering questions and practicing my art." Again Shah Jahan was impressed; from his body language he could tell that the man was proud of his professional skills.
Finally, the emperor went to the third stonecutter to whom he put the same question. "I am building the Taj Mahal, old man, and if I keep answering idle questions, I shall never be able to complete the most beautiful monument on earth." Shah Jahan returned to his palace much pleased. Clearly, the third stonecutter had given the best answer.
The first worker represented dedication to work. The second showed professional excellence. The third symbolized the power of a shared vision.
The power of shared vision is one of Sankalp's biggest strength. Each volunteer, irrespective of which stone he/she is busy cutting, sees the bigger picture; building the most beautiful nation on earth.
Information Technology & My Motherland
The success of Indian firms and professionals in the IT arena during the last decade has been spectacular. Entrepreneurs, bureaucrats, and politicians are now advancing views about how India can ride the IT bandwagon and leapfrog into a knowledge-based economy. Isolated instances of villagers sending and receiving email messages or surfing the Internet are being promoted as examples of how India can achieve this transformation, while vanquishing socio-economic challenges such as illiteracy, poverty, and the digital divide along the way. E-governance is being projected as the way of the future as IT has the potential to make existing processes more effective and efficient. The growth of the IT sector in India symbolizes the potential of Indian industry to perform at world-class standards. Led by some visionaries and supported by thousands of employees and entrepreneurs, the IT sector embodies much of what can go right when the spirit of human enterprise is given free rein.
India may be slow to enter into the global market but we are now prepared to take on the myriad social and economic problems faced by us. We are also backed by strong by strong ethical beliefs. This transition will make India a more stable nation and will also avoid the harmful side effects of an unexpected capital society. Today India produces 4 lakh engineers per year. We have 5 crore telephone connections, 23 crore mobile phone connections and 6 crore internet users. Information technology has thus seeped into the minds of millions of Indians, as India takes of on a promising growth ride.
A journey to Meghalaya, the adobe of clouds
It was early February and my exams had just got over. Exams had gone well, but as usual; I never hoped for good results (and they never happen either). It had been a great semester. I reached home on 5th Feb. Baba (dad) had planned a trip to Assam & Meghalaya, starting from 6th Feb.
We reached Kolkata, early in the morning; on the 7th of Feb. Our train to Guwahati was at 4 in the evening so we had almost the whole day. Baba decided to take us to Belur Math.
Situated on the banks of Hugli (a distributary of Ganges), Belur math was the place where the Ramakrishna Mission was established in the late 19th century. This is where Swami Vivekananda lived the last few years of his life and finally attained mahasamadhi. The atmosphere here is serene and peaceful. It was an honour to be in the place where the great saint and his disciples dwelt and meditated.
On 8th Feb, we reached Guwahati, the capital of Assam. Assam is quite similar to Bengal. The only major difference is that Assam is heavily guarded by BSF jawans, with a tight security system in place. The fact that my cell phone (BSNL prepaid) had no signal here; did not surprise me. Actually due to security reasons, prepaid phones are not allowed in Assam (and also other disturbed regions like Kashmir). Only post-paid cell phones with proper address proofs are used here. Thankfully, baba's connection was the BSNL post-paid, offered to him by the Indian Railways. That evening we visited the famous Kamakhya temple. It is located on the top of a hill not very far from the River Brahmaputra. It’s always very crowded. The air smelt holy here. We were back by evening. Due to an important work, I happened to pay a visit to the railway station. The entrance was guarded by Army jawans & every passenger's entry was monitored. They were being checked thoroughly (including luggage). I soon realized that there was another gate (mainly for parcels), which had been left completely unguarded, and a large number of people passed through these gates unchecked. I complained to the station manager with an authority of being a passenger and the son of chief division transportation inspector, Ranchi (karna padta hai). He responded immediately. 3 days later, when I passed through the same place (during my journey back home), I saw 2 guards stationed at those gates!!
The next morning, that is, on 9th we started for Shillong, Meghalaya; our next destination. It's a three hours journey from Guwahati to Shillong. There are Tata Sumos and Indicas running to and fro, on this route at all times (except at night). I was disappointed to see that at the Assam-Meghalaya border, the guards usually let vehicles pass without a thorough check; on payment of bribes. On the brighter side, the cell phone's signal was back and I was more than happy.
Now about Megahlaya, "The Abode of Clouds.” All I knew about the state was that it consists of three hills- Khasi, Garo and Jaintia, and that Cherrapunjee is the place with maximum rainfall in the world. I had expected Shillong to be a small town, judging by all the villages I passed through, on my journey to Shillong. I had assumed it to be heavenly and filled with clouds. I'm afraid it was not so...
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya and the capital of the undivided Assam, is like any other big city in India, with houses of a special type, for protection from heavy rains. Cars, especially Maruti 800 and Sumos are the public vehicles here. Very few people actually use motor cycles (obviously, it rains so much)! It was disheartening to see the beautiful valleys here littered with garbage and polythene bags. While searching for a hotel to stay; we met a cab wala, who was being very friendly. He offered to help us in our hunt for good hotel. A suspicious Baba drove him away. We boarded in a hotel and after freshening up, when we left for site-seeing, we ran into the same cab wala. He offered his services and after all the price negotiations, baba agreed.
The cab wala, Raja, was a pure Khasi, i.e., he was a native of the Khasi hills and belonged to the Khasi tribe. The old churches here, in Shillong, were a great sight to behold. On our way to the Shillong peak, Raja explained that Shillong and most other parts of Meghalaya, were under the surveillance of the BSF jawans and proudly exclaimed that it Meghalaya, in fact, was a very peaceful state. Men here are mainly farmers growing Potato, Carrot, Radish, and Paddy; or do other laborious work (driving, manual labour); and women in the family run small shops or help their husband in the fields. I was amazed to know that women here head the families and that the husband adopts the wife's surname after marriage. Also the youngest daughter inherits the family property. Raja also told me that during their crop harvesting festival, the virgins from the family offered their souls to the nature God. Later in the day, we paid a visit to the museum, where the diversity among the three major tribes here- Khasi, Garo and Jaintia was on display. Raja also had a lot to tell us about Shillong, that was the capital of the undivided Assam. During the 1972 split, when Meghalaya was formed, Guwahati was made the capital of Assam. A view of the city from the top of Shillong peak was a patch work of small houses and army barracks. I must admit that Shillong is much larger than Ranchi.
People here are very generous and patriotic. They worship the INA (Indian National Army) Jawans and idolise Subhash Chandra Bose. I must quote here that Netaji, with his Azad Hind Fauj had entered India through the north east. Great men like Victor Banerjee (a great Bengali and English actor) and Arundhati Roy are from this very state. People in Meghalaya are a witness to the Bangladesh war of 1972 and are deeply patriotic. The young generation of Shillong loves low waist jeans, ironically. There is a big stadium (Jawaharlal Nehru stadium) for Rock concerts & Sports here. There are many schools and colleges, quite a lot of them built during the British rule. Many Don Bosco institutions provide educational services to the people. They include a school, a degree college and a training institute. The St. Mary College for girls is also among other notable institutions. There is a golf course, where mainly Army and Air force officers enjoy their moments of peace and luxury. There is also a huge Air force base here which boasts of a radar, a set of helipads and also an air force museum.
Our next visit was to the Elephant falls or three step falls (water flows down in 3 huge steps). By 4:30, Raja had brought us back to the hotel in his Maruti 800 cab. Here we planned our trip for the next day, to Cherrapunjee. By evening, it was absolutely cold, unlike Guwahati. By 8, all shops were shuttered close.
The next morning by 8, we had started for Cherrapunjee village, a 2 hrs journey from Shillong. The roads here are good and the weather was absolutely perfect, though cold. Raja explained how difficult it is to drive during rains. Raincoats are a must, he said, umbrellas would never stand the rough weather and heavy rains. Strange as it may sound, the hills here are made of either sand (yes, sand), or coal, or limestone, or rocks (obviously). Even Uranium is found here. The coals mines are privatized here (unlike Jharkhand). Needless to say, the army guards the Uranium mines here (the same is true at the Jharkhand- Rakhamines, near Jamshedpur as well).
Cherrapunjee is locally known as Sohra. The entrance to Cherrapunjee was marked by Ramakrishna Ashram, established in 1931. Now I don't know why I have this strong affinity towards RK missions but this great institution in this corner of earth brought a big smile to my face. The land here seemed so dry. The grass was grey, or rather, not so green, and the same was the state of the jungles around. The waterfalls were huge (HUGE) but lacked water during this dry winter season. I could only imagine the volume of water that would flow down these falls during the monsoon. "When it rains heavily Shaabjee, the plains of Bangladesh are completely submerged", Raja exclaimed with a Godly grin. From the top of the hills I could see the plains of Bangladesh, or at least, Raja claimed it was. Everyone here in Cherrapunjee knew Raja. They called him Raja Hindustani. He had been driving on these roads for the past 25 years and was an expert at his work. He was very lively and enthusiastic. I liked him and enjoyed his company. He told us a lot about his family. Both his parents had passed away. His wife learnt computers and at the same time she coached the kids in the neighbourhood. On the other hand he was not very educated and he knew very little English (though English is the commonly used script here).
Now the village Cherrapunjee, in fact all of Meghalaya is mainly described by clouds, rain, jungles, waterfalls (huge ones), caves, monoliths, the Army, patriotism and a women dominated society. Monoliths are huge rocks erected by the tribal people (mainly Jaintias) as a tribute to their ancestors. The caves of Cherrapunjee are another major tourist attraction. These caves; some of which were more than 150 metres long; were a natural wonder. The caves were very difficult to explore, especially for maa baba, but they enjoyed it. Since it was winter, the falls were dry and the forests, pale (hated it!). At the same time the caves were open and safe, transportation was easy, and we could enjoy the beauty of the place without being interrupted by clouds or rains (loved it!)
The churches (and old graveyards) that I saw here are worth a mention. They were beautiful, at times standing secluded, on the top of hillocks. The people here, mainly Hindus, often visited these churches. I saw portraits of Gautam Buddha and Jesus Christ in the Ramakrishna Mission. The spirit of secularism is truly ingrained in the minds of people here, and it touched my heart.
I saw some villages in deep valleys here. Raja said that it took the people, two hours of steep trekking to reach Cherrapunjee village (to purchase food and other items of daily necessity), and an equally long, tiring, dangerous journey back to the village. The village and the surrounding mountains looked so serene, so still; straight out of a painting. The people here had learned to patiently stare at the hills and rains for days at a stretch, without complaining. Girls here wore lungis and looked a lot more beautiful than the low waist types in Shillong.
Three important things I'd love to mention here are 108- the wheels of hope, the state elections and my short conversation with a group of BSF jawans here.
The emergency helpline number 108 is in heavy and consistent use here. “Police, Fire, Hospital- any emergency? Just give a call.” This was commonly seen on billboards in Guwahati, Shillong and even in Cherrapunji. Army jawans guard these wheels of hope.
On the day of my visit, the Meghalaya state elections were being held in full swing. People including women & senior citizens were out on the streets to cast their precious votes. It was such a pleasure to see people participating with such enthusiasm.
During lunch at a restaurant in Cherrapunjee, I met a few jawans of the BSF. We spoke for a long time. They explained that they were posted on the Bangladesh border, 30 kms away from Cherrapunjee. They didn't seem to be happy about their personal lives. I told them about my organization, Sankalp, and what we young volunteers are doing to bring 100% voluntary and safe blood donation in Karnataka. Coincidentally, I happened to be wearing my Sankalp T-shirt on that day. They were all ears when I told them about Mission Siachen. I expressed our deep admiration and heartfelt respect for them, and also told them how they were a great source of inspiration for the youth. They congratulated me on our achievements and even took mine and Rajat Sir's number (Rajat Sir is the President of Sankalp India Foundation). This was truly a great experience.
During lunch at a restaurant in Cherrapunjee, I met a few jawans of the BSF. We spoke for a long time. They explained that they were posted on the Bangladesh border, 30 kms away from Cherrapunjee. They didn't seem to be happy about their personal lives. I told them about my organization, Sankalp, and what we young volunteers are doing to bring 100% voluntary and safe blood donation in Karnataka. Coincidentally, I happened to be wearing my Sankalp T-shirt on that day. They were all ears when I told them about Mission Siachen. I expressed our deep admiration and heartfelt respect for them, and also told them how they were a great source of inspiration for the youth. They congratulated me on our achievements and even took mine and Rajat Sir's number (Rajat Sir is the President of Sankalp India Foundation). This was truly a great experience.
We were back in Shillong by 4 in the evening. This place was expensive. Even vegetables were as costly as those in Bangalore. One thing I could understand was that cost of living in this part of the world is actually high out of necessity, not luxury.
On the next day; the 11th February, we visited other parts of Meghalaya. Obviously, Raja was our guide cum driver again! We visited the Mawjymbhuin cave. There is a natural Shiva linga here with a bent rock over it. Water flowed over the rock and fell over the linga, drop by drop. There was a Nandi shaped rock beside this. Such a natural wonder! We also visited a natural hot water spring and a sacred forest (due to innumerable monoliths here). The forest was extremely dense (as in Jurassic park) and during rains these are completely covered with orchid flowers of different colours.
Today it was different from Cherrapunjee. This part of Meghalaya was completely deserted and not a single person was in sight. The roads were not good which made it impossible to access these places during monsoons. We saw untouched pine forests, deep valleys & huge waterfalls (obviously with no or very little water). We were back in the crowded city by the evening.
Next day, we journeyed back to Guwahati and reached Kolkata early in the morning of the 13th. On 12th, during my train journey, I wrote my long delayed 200th poem. Though this journey, to an untouched, beautiful part of my country was over, I could still sense the echoes of the caves, the silence of the green valleys and the breeze near the waterfalls. And.. the beautiful people there.
