Two anecdotes with the same motif……

We happen to experience coincidences often in our life. It amazes us, when two altogether different incidences occurring on different premises, begin to sound the same  pattern in this or that way. That seems to prove implicitly, a theory or principle may sound negative in aspect. But on various occasions, this negative aspect certainly be laden with positive attitude.

I am resident of a hilly province of India. This tiny province, prior to the year of 1999, was the part of a huge province named Utter Pradesh ( the North Province to say). At that period of time, all the examinations pertaining to the government services, had to be conducted by the “Public Service Commission of the Province.” That ‘ Service commission board’ had it,s head quarter, at a far distant city of Allahabad (now Prayagraj.)

                                        Coming across 

The first anecdote of this blog belong to the year of 1984. On qualifying the written examination for the post of  “Assistant Prosecuting Officer,” the Public Service Commission had asked me to appear in person, before the interview board at Allahabad. The distance of city Allahabad, from my home town was more than 600 Km.  The most suitable  and convenient means of journey for the purpose was, only the trains run by Indian Railways. At that period of time, there was no direct train facility for Allahabad.

Merely, a train by the name of ” Pratap garh express” was in operation. Pratap garh is a local Railway station, that lies about 80-90 km before Allahabad city. At that time, “Pratap garh express” used to depart from my city at about 08 p. m. Next day, on about 03 p.m., it was destined  to arrive at Pratap garh station. From that point, the status of “express train”was deleted, and, the train would become  the “local passenger train” up to the Allahabad city.

The passenger train, as per the rules and regulations of the Indian Railways, is a train which is bound to halt at every small station, in between the journey.  In this process, it relieves the outgoing passengers and receives new incoming passengers. During this process, the speed of the train but natural slackens. Owing to taking of short halts  at every station,  it consumes good deal of time and journey seemed to prolong one.

The days were of February and in India the month of February is listed in slight wintry season. Hence, the evening twilight falls soon. So, from Pratap garh onward to Allahabad it was evening time. I was installed in my ordinary second class coach, and, watching this transformation of “express train,” into  “passenger train.” At certain station, train would suddenly be packed tightly with crowd of passengers. Whilst on the same, at the next station crowd thinning away. I happened to give ears to the cacophonous conversation of passengers, and, some how enjoying the journey.

At some station, a group of some children and young boys,  all from Muslim community boarded the train. All they clad in their traditional attire  of short pajama ( kind of trousers), long kurta (shirt) and bowl cap on the head. Since, slight wintry season it was, so some of them wore half sleeves sweater or light jacket. This group included  some little boys of 8-10 years old in age.  All they seemed heading for one and same destiny. The familiarity of the group revealed this fact.

Two little boys installed on the side of seat where I set. Elder boy was about ten years old with sharp features. The one thing I noticed, was a distinct confidence with a brightness in his eyes rather a spark in them! This kind of spark, often  not found in a little child of ten years of the age. It rose an interest in the little boy, and, I began to converse with him. I asked his name, where to he was heading for etc etc. He told me his name, and explained that he was a student of madrasa near Allahabad city. All boys of his group were students of madrasa . A  ‘Madrasa’ is a religious educational school, that  provides all kind of facilities to students on minimum charges. Often, they are run by charitable organization free of cost.  All they were heading back to school, after enjoying their week end vacation.

I queried further about his family, about his parents. He responded, back at the home he has got a younger sister and a brother who was sitting beside him.  A student of the same madrasa. His mother was a widow. I was little more shocked by hearing the untimely demise of his father.  I asked,  ” how your father died….what was his profession in his life?” The answer little boy gave was more shocking. He spoke with a proudly tone , ” My father was a dacoit! In one of his accomplice his gang was surrounded by crowd of villagers, he was beaten to death there.”

                                     Pride in narration 

When he narrated this, the spark of his eyes flashed with a pride. He had no any guilt conscious in narrating all this. His this answer, at once made to flash an another anecdote of my student’s life in mind. Besides, astonishingly the confidence of the little boy, about prideful narration of his father being a dacoit, amazed me. Further detailed query, to make it clear, might the source of information of the death of the father to the boy,  be from some external channel. But it revealed, the confidence, about the heroic deeds of the late father as dacoit, was pumped into the mind of the kid by his mother. Who made him realized, though your father was a criminal but he was engrossed in a higher degrees of criminal activities. That needed physical strength and a brave heart.

                                   Familiar incidence 

Now I describe about the anecdote, that flashed at once into my mind, when boy said proudly, ” my father was a dacoit……..” This is related to my student life of Intermediate class (twelfth class ). There, I had chosen ” military science ” as an optional subject. Our Head of Department (HoD) was some Gupta ji from Baniya community. ‘Baniya community’ in India, basically is a business class and utmost peace loving and hustle avoiding community. People from this community, ever try to keep a long distance from any kind of violent deeds by nature.

His being the H o D of “military science” faculty, was in it self, an astonishing fact.  That too, with an additional qualification of Captain rank from the  Territorial Army of India. In the last lecture of the year, in his valediction speech to all young students ,whatever, he said that flashed before my eyes.

He had said, ” Dear students! I wish you all a bright and prosperous future. It,s my wish you should join some good government job or be settled in some well off business line. But may be that some one of you, falling prey to the hard circumstances, be forced to deviate to live a criminal life. Being your HoD and teacher of military science, I have to suggest you emphatically. In your that life, always keep in mind that  you have been a student of “military science.”  In your life as a criminal, try to bear a motto; whatever crime you commit, that too should be of higher grade. I won’t like that my some student should commit  the petty crime of “thieving”. That would be utter shameful, thousand times better than that is, one should become  a “dacoit.” Since, that needs a strength and  a brave heart.” What a common amazing “motif” both these incidences carried. Penned by– Vinay Pharasi…..