Mini Gandhi ( Part-2) – – –

( Recap – In the previous episode I tried to make introduction of my one maternal uncle Aatam Ram ji, which still is not complete and needed some more description. In that part, I mentioned his being a teacher in basic primary school and a certified freedom fighter. By virtue of his being  a Freedom Fighter, he too was a stern follower of Gandhian ideology and for that cause ever remained involved in activities, that might be helpful in spreading of the Gandhian thoughts.)

Withal being in possession of musical instruments of Indian harmonium and pair of tabor (tabla), he  was blessed by god with a melodic vocal cord. Often in local public congregation he sung devotional songs based on Gandhian ideology on harmonium with the assistance of some one to play on tabla. Otherwise also, he by himself was a perfect hand on both the musical instruments i.e. harmonium as well as tabor. At that period of time, the sources of local entertainment in village side were limited. Often people happened to gather to listen religious ritual in shape of Katha (oration of a mythological story) at someone’s place, who arranged such type of Katha.
This concept of Katha (oration) was and still is popular on this day in country side, as the Mythological story of  Shri Satynarayan god. This Katha or oration has had two kinds of version. Generally, in first version the priest uses to narrate the religious oration chapter wise in prosaic mode. By ritual, every version consisted of seven chapters only. The another version is musical version and given the name, ” Radheshyam Katha.” In this method, every chapter of oration is narrated through devotional songs accompanied by musical instruments of Indian harmonium and tabor.  The contents of story of both the version is same but the methodology is different.

The Radheshyam version consumes the time but produces the deep musical impact and people often enjoy this version. Since audience enjoys it by becoming the participant in chorus of singing of devotional songs and feel themselves in affinity to entity of god. In this kind of Radheshyam version of oration, Aatma Ram Mama ji was endowed special treatment at par with priest. It was by virtue of his being a melodic singer and a good hand on Indian Harmonium. On such situation he always used to have an assistant to play on tabor and as such to assist him. In every such Katha, in between on finding the opportunity, he used to sing devotional, ethical songs based on Gandhian ideology and helped propagate Gandhian thoughts. This was his habit which seemed not to be effaced, every one supposed this as confirmed and conceded to that .

Although, at that period of time, the practice of consuming of alcohol was confined to very small number of people in country side. Hardly eight to ten such backslide people could be notified as drunkard in every medium sized village and that, they too consumed secretively but they had a notoriety on that front. I am talking about the old period of the year around 1978-79, but young generation too was in process to develop a tendency to taste it any how. It fantasized them indubitably. The devil always works untiringly on his scheme. In fact, this process been initiated from the year of 1975 and in speeding up of this process some factors played the role.

Our district being a foot hill district and a good number of youth opted for armed force service as soldier. Otherwise also, in our region, proportion of youth serving in army is considerably much more than the plain side territory. This service has ever charmed the youth in the region. Whenever, such Army men happened to come back on annual leave, in all certainty, they brought back home some bottles of English army Rum along with. And in swag or just to impress other civilian youth, such army men happened to offer one or two peg of this English Rum to them. At that time, the English Rum was the only available brand in country side. By tasting that, youth of village too felt loaded with a false impression of being modern one.

Though, licensed “country liquor shop” were already there at every distance of about ten km in near by small semi town type bazaar. From there, daily drinker used to obtain their quota. Apart from, the illicit fermented and distilled “home brew ale” too were sold clandestinely in dense forest and the supply chain of that too was smooth. In total “ale” has been a consuming product in mankind life, whose production and supply from time immemorial been maintained  and operated in all odds. Now again back to Aatma Ram Mama ji. His being a Freedom Fighter and staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi, ever forced him to strictly opposed this evil.

He strictly observed the “principle of total prohibition” propounded by Mahatma gandhi. ( while on the same, about his this Prohibition drive, on his back, people involved in the illicit preparation and sale of home brew, had their own argument.  They too took the support the Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. In that context, they insisted on the point, Mahatma Gandhi ever promoted for setting up and running of “cottage – Industry.” To such illicit vendors, their business too fell under the category of “cottage-industry.)

When Aatma Ram  Mama ji came to know about the increasing interest  of young generation for “liquor,”  his Gandhian thoughts prompted him to curb this evil. For the purpose, he firstly contacted the government run “Prohibition department officials.” With their support, he arduously arranged educational campaign to curb this evil and propagate the ethics against the alcoholism. Prohibition department also  provided him the literature appertained to this drive in shape of big colored posters and pamphlets. He with the help of his like minded folk, glued them over on different prime public places. He pasted those posters on the prime walls of village Community Center, Basic Primary school and other places, where villagers often gathered for gossiping.

But when his intended desired results were not obtained by doing all this, meant people not dissuaded from drinking habit, he opted for another plan. He prepared a team of his like minded people to teach a hard lesson to such drunkards. On every evening, such team would capture any one of tipsy drunkard and as a chastisement give him harsh thrashing. It was an amazing concept being adopted by the disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Every one knows,  whole though his life Mahatma Gandhi practiced the Principle of “Non-Violence.” And in pursuance to that Mama Ji too was expected to follow the same principle. But here, disciple of founder of principle of “Non Violence” were applying the “violence” forcefully in weaning the drinking habit of people.

But despite this, the “Violent Move” of Aatma Ram Mama ji had had full moral support of villagers. To them, it was for a good cause. This daring drive earned him a title of ” Mini Gandhi.” Behind him, this title became his reference name. After all, Mahatma Gandhi intended to implement the “total Prohibition policy,” and Aatma Ram Mama ji was helping his this drive  to reach at some positive point. His this repute through this prohibition drive rose to new height.

Whenever, some new visitor entered the village and asked about the house of Mama ji, then villagers respectfully would respond, ‘ Well well, you intend to visit the place of Mini Gandhi ji? Just after a distance of one furlong, take a right side turn and you are there only.” I in myself been an eye witness to his this drive during my sojourn there. This title of “Mini Gandhi” remained glued to his persona till he breathed last. Though, time when took the U-turn in his life time, it became symbolic of a sarcasm. That story in coming episodes.( End of the Part- 2) Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–