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.