जीवन के रंग- अपनों के संग- REMEMBERING PAPA: MY CHILDHOOD PHANTOM (31/01/2020)

PAPA AND MA

AT BISHODHAR MICA MINES

MERE PAPA

WITH SRI RAM LAKHAN SINGH YADAV AT A FUNCTION IN JHUMRI-TELAIYA

ADDRESSING A GATHERING ON THE OCCASION OF VEER KUNWAR SINGH JAYANTI  

IN THE LAWNS AT HIS HOUSE 

WITH THE THEN CHIEF MINISTER OF BIHAR SRI CHANDRASHEKHAR SINGH AT HIS RESIDENCE IN 1984

ADDRESSING A GATHERING ON AMBEDKAR JAYANTI

Every child considers his father a hero and I wasn’t different. My childhood was spent reading the adventures of Phantom (Published by Indrajal Comics).-an imaginative character conceptualized by Lee Falk. Phantom had a great impact on my impressionable mind as a child and mesmerized me because wherever he saw evil, he would pounce upon it like a lightning to root it out. I ventured with him to unseen terrains- deadly swampy islands, deep forest, extensive grasslands and deserted desert. In my childhood, I considered my father no less than a Phantom. Phantom rode a horse with his pet dog at his side. My father drove a 4X4 Willys Jeep with his ‘Spanish Eagle’ double-barreled gun belted to the gun carriage in the dashboard of the open hooded jeep with its windscreen placed on bonnet. Just like Phantom, he had his German Shepherds (Alsatian dogs) Robin and later Tiger with him in his jeep driven by his faithful ‘man-Friday’ ‘Chimtu’. Phantom was swifter then flashlight in flashing his revolver tucked neatly in the holster under his arms. I saw the same swiftness in my father who kept his fully loaded Webley Scott Revolver in holster tied to a leather belt around his waist. He traversed the dusty rocky terrains of Koderma Reserve Forests that led to the Bishodhar Mica Mines, unhesitatingly even in the dead of night with his gun, revolver, and a German shepherd at his side, alert even at the slightest of movement of a fig. It was this dare-devilish nature that paled even the masculinity of the most handsome cine star of the era Dharmendra that romanticized me much more than the imaginary stories of Phantom. Hence he was my real childhood Phantom. And then there were many stories of his dare-devilry, some retold by Chimptu while others to which I was witness to personally. On one occasion he had single-handedly chased away a band of railway looters led by Ghani Miyan at Gujhandi. On another occasion that happened in 1975, I saw him singlehandedly chasing away a group of bandits, who had laid hostage the two petrol pumps and its staff (Esso & Parmar Petrol Pumps) near our place in Jhumri-Telaiya.  He would never call or wait for the police to arrive as he had his own reservations about the efficiency and capability of the police to control crime. On the other hand, he had great respect for the Armed forces. This was reflected in his decision to send his eldest son in the Armed forces. It was this love and respect for the Armed forces that led him to mobilize all motor mechanics of that small township in 1962 to help repair the vintage ‘Shaktiman’ trucks and ‘Jonga’ jeeps of the army convoy that often broke down on their way to the NEFA on the Grand Trunk Road. He mobilized his group of friends to arrange for the hospitality of the armed forces and took great care for their comfortable onward journey.   

He commanded unparalleled authority in that small kasba and this led poor village folks to approach him to settle their disputes and preside over panchayat meeting, as the unofficial panch (judge). This often influential gentry of the village. His weekends were spent solving disputes and delivering justice. What was indeed novel that he would also ensure that his decision was implemented in letter and spirit. No one stood up to register his protest to the judgment passed by him.

Despite his rough exterior, he was a warm-hearted person who was so emotional that he would never be present to send off a family member at the time of their departure from his place. Even though he reminded me of Dharmendra in his daredevilry, he was personally a great fan of Raj Kapoor, probably because his childhood was spent in the manner similar to that portrayed by Raj Kapoor in the famous film ‘Awara’.  He had a great liking for theatres. On Dussehra his local theatre group would perform at the Belatand Durga Puja Samiti. On stage, his performance was closer to noted actors Premnath and Prithvi Raj Kapoor.

He was an ardent football fan. With the help of other noted citizens of the town, he took lead in organizing football tournament every year. Matches were played at the football ground of Chhatthuram Horilram Senior secondary School. Entry to football ground was free. Football Clubs from nearby cities such as Patna, Ranchi, Hazaribag, Gaya, Patratu, Dhanbad, Nawada, apart from Border Security Force (BSF), Sainik School, Telaiya and two local clubs namely Young Boys’ Club and the Prince Club participated.

He was able to maintain religious harmony in that small village and would keep a strict vigil on any mischief element. In doing so he was a true secularist and maintained a good relationship with people of all community and was open to helping anyone irrespective of his caste, creed or religion. He ensured that there was never a riot in that small hamlet. After Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s assassination he ensured that no harm was caused to the Sikh community. Nearly all the people who assisted him (his driver, darzi etc) came from the Muslim community. 

Not a single day passes when I do not miss him or do not remember him. His loss was a colossal personal loss. He left us on 31st January 2006.

जीवन के रंग- अपनों के संग- वसंत पंचमी और देवी सरस्वती का आह्वान (29/01/2020)

Saraswati Puja Organized by 'Lonely Hearts Club' in 1976

विद्यार्थी जीवन में यदि किसी देवी के आशीर्वाद की आकांक्षा सबसे अधिक रहती थी तो वो देवी सरस्वती ही थी। यद्पि हमारी शिक्षा एक कान्वेंट स्कूल में हुई तथापि बचपन में सरस्वती पूजा के प्रति हम सबों का उल्लास सबसे अधिक रहा करता था। संत जोसफ कान्वेंट स्कूल में सरस्वती पूजा के अवसर पर अवकाश रहता था। किन्तु इस कमी की भारपाई हम घर पर ही सरस्वती पूजा मना कर कर लिया करते थे। पूजा से तक़रीबन एक माह पहले नवीन भैया द्वारा 'लोनली हार्ट्स क्लब' के सभी सदस्यों की एक मीटिंग बुलाई जाती जिसमें सरस्वती पूजा मनाने से सम्बंधित सभी पहलुओं पर वृहत विचार किया जाता था। 'लोनली हार्ट्स क्लब' नवीन भैया के दिमाग की उपज थी। आस-पड़ोस के एक दर्ज़न बच्चे इस क्लब के सम्मानित सदस्य थे। नाटकों का आयोजन, पिकनिक मनाना, स्वतंत्रता दिवस, गाँधी जयंती एवं गणतंत्र दिवस पर विशेष आयोजन आदि इस क्लब की सामान्य गतिविधियां थी। क्लब की मीटिंग गेराज में होते जिसे 'ग्रीन रूम' का नाम दिया गया था। सरस्वती पूजा की मीटिंग में चंदा से उगाही जाने वाली संभावित कलेक्शन पर वृहत चर्चा होती। इस संभावित कलेक्शन के आधार पर पूजा के खर्चे का अनुमान लगाया जाता कि कितने की मूर्ति लेनी होगी, कितने रुपये मंच की सजावट में लगेंगें, कितने का प्रसाद बनना है और कितनी राशि इमरजेंसी फण्ड में रखनी है। भारत सरकार के वित्त विभाग में काम करते हुए जब आजकल फिस्कल डेफिसिट की बातें सुनता हूँ तो बरबस उन दिनों की यादें ताज़ा हो जाती हैं जब अपनी बजटिंग और खर्चे इतने चाक-चौबंद होते कि क्या मजाल कहीं कोई कमी रह जाए। मीटिंग के बाद हर सदस्य की जिम्मेवारी नियत कर दी जाती थी। किसे मूर्ति निर्माण की मॉनिटरिंग करनी है, किसे मंच सजावट के सामान की खरीदारी और सज्जा करनी है और किसे प्रसाद के लिए फल आदि खरीदना है- यह पहले से तय कर लिया जाता था। 'लोनली हार्ट्स क्लब' में मैं, मेरी छोटी बहन और भाई की हैसियत 'दूध-भता' यानि जूनियर सदस्य की थी। हमें कोई बड़ी जिम्मेवारी नहीं दी जाती वरन हर समिति में सीनियर की मदद को लगा दिया जाता था। पूजा के अवसर पर बुंदिया प्रायः माँ बना देती जिससे हमारे खर्चे में कुछ कटौती हो जाती थी। इसी प्रकार विसर्जन के लिए पारिवारिक व्यवसाय के किसी एक ट्रक से मूर्ति लेकर हम जवाहर घाट जाते। इस प्रकार विसर्जन के खर्चे में भी हम कटौती करने में सफल रहते थे। सबसे पहले चंदे की रसीद बुक का आर्डर दे दिया जाता था ताकि चंदा उगाही के लिए अधिक से अधिक वक़्त मिल सके। हालाँकि चंदे की अधिकतम राशि हमें उन पंद्रह या बीस ट्रकों से मिलती थी जो हमारे वृहत पारिवारिक व्यापार में चलते थे। बाकी की राशि शहर के चंद गणमान्य लोगों से मिलती थी जो पिताजी का सम्मान करते हुए हमें कभी निराश नहीं करते थे और अच्छी राशि बतौर चंदा दे देते थे। पूजा का आयोजन अपने ही घर पर सामने बरामदे में किया जाता। पूजा के दिन हम अपनी कॉपी-किताबें सरस्वती देवी की मूर्ति के समक्ष रखते और प्रातः पंडितजी को बुला कर पूजा संपन्न कराया जाता। हम बच्चे बड़ी लगन और विधि-विधान पूर्वक, पंडितजी के निर्देशों का अक्षरश पालन करते हुए देवी सरस्वती की पूजा करते और देवी से परीक्षा में हम पर अपनी कृपा बनाये रखने की चिरौरी करते। संध्या आरती होती और फिर उस दिन के कार्यक्रम संपन्न हो जाते। संध्या समय सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रम का आयोजन होता और दर्शक होते क्लब के सदस्यों के अभिभावक। उस दिन माँ अच्छे-अच्छे पकवान बनाती। पूजा के प्रसाद के बाद इस अवसर पर बने विशेष पकवानों से हम सब बच्चों का दिन बन जाता था। क्लब के सीनियर सदस्य रात्रि देवी सरस्वती के सामने ही बिताते। दूसरे दिन प्रातः पुनः पूजा और आरती के साथ विसर्जन की तैयारी शुरू हो जाती। देवी सरस्वती के जयकारे के साथ सीनियर मेम्बरान ट्रक पर मूर्ति को रख विसर्जन को जाते। हम जूनियर सदस्य 'बिना-पानी की जय' के साथ देवी सरस्वती को विदा करते। बचपन में तो यह भी नहीं पता था कि 'बिना पानी' का क्या तात्पर्य था। यह तो बाद में पता चला कि यह वास्तव में 'वीणा-पाणी की जय' था जिसे हम नासमझ 'बिना-पानी’ कहते चहकते फिरते थे।

जीवन के रंग- अपनों के संग- 'LONELY HEARTS CLUB’ - REMEMBERING ‘NAVINIYA’ (NAVIN SAHAY) (15/01/2020)

‘The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power

To tell just when the hands will stop,

At late or early hour.

The present is the only time you own,

So live, love, toil with a will.

Place no faith in ‘tomorrow’.

For the clock may then be still.

-Anonymous.

Childhood is the time when one discovers the world. In a joint family system, as in India, siblings play a major role after parents and prior to peer groups, in moulding the personality of a child and inculcating in him human values. When I talk of siblings I am reminded today of Navin Bhaiya or Naviniya in short, who was quite close to us. He spent quality time with us back in Jhumri-Telaiya in the Seventies. He was one who was always ready to listen to us, spend time with us and organize various cultural events encouraging our participation in these events. He often came up with unique ideas and we all followed him readily. Setting up a children’s club was his unique idea. The club had children from three adjoining houses as its members- Rajan Bhaiya (Pappu Bhaiya), Shabnam Didi, Rintu Di, Rewa Di, Nilima, Pinku, Ravi and probably Chandrika Chacha’s children as well. We missed Biraj Bhaiya during such activities as he was sent to boarding from very childhood- initially to Mount Carmel, Hazaribag and later to Sainik School, Telaiya. This club was given a peculiar name by him- a name which I now realize reflected his personality - The ‘Lonely Heart’s Club’. A club with a dozen children could never have been a gathering of lonely hearts- all the members were very active and lively. The office of the “Lonely Hearts Club” was located in the ante-room of vehicle garage at ‘Oo-dera’ (Our uncle's place next door who we called Bauji) and was given the name “Green Room” by him. We all spent time in decorating the office and often spent afternoons in the office, even in sweltering summer or shivering winter- discussing forthcoming activities of the club. Naviniya, being the President of the “Lonely Heart’s Club”, organized plays in which we all participated. Each child was assigned a role suiting his ability to act. Naviniya was the director, the story selector and the casting director all rolled into one. Our parents were our assured audience. We played a number of Shakespearean plays apart from some horror plays. I still remember the horror play titled “The Red Hand”. For three successive years ‘The Lonely Hearts Club’ organized Saraswati Puja- an in house affair in which each child participated and contributed to his capability. Funding was again an in-house affair in the form of handsome contributions from each of the two dozens Lorries that was our family business those days. Innovative games such as ‘Treasure Hunt’ were other favourite pastimes. 

Even when Naviniya left for Delhi for higher studies he ensured that he spent quality time with us. During session breaks, he would join the Saint Joseph’s School as a teacher –the same school where we all studied. While taking classes, at times he punished us. However, it was quite amusing to see him getting punished by Nilima back home. Later on when we founded “Orient Library” in a rented room in Devi Mandap Road with Nirmal Nag as the Chief Patron, the lessons in community service was of useful help. 

Unfortunately, Navin Bhaiya left us at an early age and left behind fond memories of our childhood days spent at Jhumri-Telaiya. He had indeed messed up his life that led to his early exit. Like every human being, there were strands of grey in his personality as well which I prefer not to remember. In his death, I am reminded of Gautama- the Buddha whose date of birth, death (Maha-parinirvana) and enlightenment (Dharma Chakra Parivartana) falls on the same date i.e. full moon night of the Baishakha month. I do not know whether Naviniya did ever attain enlightenment but it is for sure that he was an enlightened soul for when he left for his heavenly abode on 15^th January 2008 it was his 50^th birthday and Lord Surya had crossed over to the Uttarayana position which is considered pious as per the Hindu traditions. I pray that his soul rests in peace.  

जीवन के रंग- अपनों के संग- REMEMBERING NEELKANTH PRASAD -‘VISVESVARAYA OF BIHAR’ (04/01/2020)

NEELKANTH PRASAD

NEELKANTH PRASAD AND HIS WIFE SHAIVALINI 

Three close family members all with the initial ‘N’ passed away in the month of January albeit in different years- my Badke Bauji Neelkanth Prasad (5^th January 1995), my Papa Narbadeshwar Prasad (31^st January 2006) and my cousin Naveen Sahay or Naviniya for short. (15^th January 2008). All the three personalities were unique in their own way. I was closely associated with each of them. Hence I often remember them, more so my father who I miss every single day. I remember Badke Babu or Badke Bauji (Neelu Cha) as a soft-spoken suave patriarch who often dropped in at our place on his way to Ranchi and back to Patna- a distance which he invariably covered in his chauffeur-driven fiat car. As a child, I only knew he was a very senior officer and a renowned engineer. Occasionally he came along with Sri Satya Narayan Sahay, Satto Cha for us, who was also an engineer with the Bihar Government.

   

Sri Neelkanth Prasad headed a number of projects during his tenure, including the construction of Ranchi-Tatanagar highway via Bundu-Tamar-Chandil route which shortened the distance between these two important cities of the erstwhile Bihar. Earlier it was covered through a circuitous route via Chaibasa. However, the most important contribution of Sri. Neelkanth Prasad was the famous Mahatma Gandhi Setu Project which he headed as its Engineer-in-Chief. This bridge was the longest road bridge, measuring over 5 kilometres (5.75 kilometres to be precise), an engineering marvel both in design and technology in its time that brought North Bihar close to Patna considerably reducing the distance between Patna and Hajipur/Muzaffarpur. Such was the significance of this bridge that it was named after the ‘Father of Our Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi and none other than the then Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi flew down to Patna to inaugurate this world-renowned bridge in May 1982. This was just 6 months after Sri Neelkanth Prasad’s had superannuated in November 1981. The Government of Dr Jagannath Mishra, the then Chief Minister of Bihar, did not grant him an extension in service till the inauguration of the bridge, that he definitely deserved. Dr. Mishra was bound to obey the orders of his political master Mrs Indira Gandhi, who was not favourably inclined to give Sri Neelkanth Prasad this extension, given his strong political legacy. Such was the legacy of K. B. Sahay, his father and Ex-Chief Minister of Bihar, whose image as the ‘Iron Man of Bihar’ was enough to haunt the corridors of powers even a decade after his death in 1974. This was sheer pettiness on part of the Government of Bihar that failed to give the credit to the person it was due. Sri Neelkanth Prasad gave his blood and sweat for this prestigious project but his contribution does not merit acknowledge even by the Bihar Government. Hardly anyone in Bihar remembers its very own ‘Vishvesvaraya’ even on ‘Engineer’s Day’.

   

Sri Neelkanth Prasad fought relentlessly to get this prestigious project sanctioned. Despite the fact that the length of Ganga in UP is 1170 km and it is 445 kms in Bihar,  Uttar Pradesh had over fifteen bridges on Ganges whereas in case of Bihar it was only two. This leaves one numb at the extent of discrimination Bihar faced. When Sri Neelkanth Prasad took up the case, the Planning Commission refused to clear the Ganga Bridge at Patna in late sixties dismissing it as economically unfeasible. This discrimination was never reported in the National Press. Nor the effort made by Neelkanth Prasad to get this prestigious project sanctioned for Bihar was ever acknowledged by the National Press. ‘The National Press’ has always highlighted how Bihar is the fountainhead of dynastic politics. They refused to acknowledge the contribution of the brilliant engineer Neel Kanth Prasad, son of former Bihar Chief Minister K. B. Sahay, who kept the dream of the Ganga Bridge alive in spite of very limited resources in extremely trying circumstances and managed to execute it successfully. This great hero of Bihar finds no mention in any “National Press”. [Excerpts from the article “Journalists and Bihar Bashing” (April 22, 2007) in response to an article by Rajdeep Sardesai. Here’s the link http://1bihar.blogspot.com/2007/04/journalists-and-bihar-bashing.htm]

Despite all efforts to play down his legacy, Sri Neelkanth Prasad and his contribution cannot be wished away so easily. He will be remembered so long as ‘The Mahatma Gandhi Setu’ exists. I salute this great son of Bihar, today, on his 25^th death anniversary.