Promised Bridge to Girls Hostel:Could it be an election issue?

Promised Bridge to the Girls Hostel! And many more things!
By: Rajbir Deswal
We then lived and studied in a mufassil town boasting of a university with a department of English. The town had been famous for harbouring rain and flood waters to the effect that almost every house, shop, office, school, college etc had to be reached from over a ‘Ram Setu’ sort of arrangement of mud bags lined up in shallow waters.
People had to a little lift their lower extremities covers to keep step-walking on the mud bags to reach their destination. It was then natural for the girls in our university hostel to look for a redeemer in someone who could promise to have a ‘bridge’ built connecting with the Departement, or atleast promise one.
I was then contesting for the President of the Students Union. And addressing a bevy of girls in their hostel, I declared that I would have a bridge built up to the girls hostel among giggles and asides. I then went on to seek form the ones who intimidated me as to what else they expected of me if I were to have their votes!
Well the list was tall but I remember certain items on their agenda which amused me then. That the tax exemption to cinema halls be completely enforced. That student concession in travel be doubled. That lecture shortage should not be an issue at all. That there should be a free period every week when boys and girls could sing and chat. That warden system should be done away with. And so on.
The most fascinating demand related to the size of a samosa being increased by sternly telling the contractor Satnam. Well those were the days when one could make promises without inviting the Election Commission’s intrusive instrumentalities and restrictive reprimands.
If I were to be instrumental in having such a bridge in place it would have been nothing less than a Bridge of Sighs–as in Oxford!

No lessons learnt to prevent stampedes!

It seems we haven’t learnt any lessons from the incidents of stampedes and large scale killing of men and women. There were reports in the recent past about so many lives having been lost due to stampedes at religious places.
We were there in Himachal Pradesh to pay obeisance to Devis there. The day was Baisakhi and there were a large number of devotees lined up. As is the practice and ritual amongst the Hindus to feed and offer gifts to ‘Kanjaks’ — girls who are not married — some of the poor ones were present at every place. But to our utter shock these girls were chased and hounded by those who controlled the flow of the pilgrims.
Seeing the ‘kanjkas’ thus chased and charged with baton, there was a flutter and pandemonium every time these girls were seen around. They are there for some purpose. The devotees find them there and make ritualistic gifts of food and cash etc.
The security men creating a scene in running after them with lathes and dandas was a sight really disgusting. It can also cause panic and make a stampede like situation. And above all what kind of Hindus are we who witness such a scene right in our front on the one hand and on the other seek to perform ceremonies with the selfsame set of girls—the holy kanjaks. It’s high time some stock taking was done and methods improved.

Untouchable Royals,Obamas & an Indian Saint

I had never known that by standards of protocol, those who have blue blood flowing in their veins — so to say the royals, are “untouchables” too. President Obama’s wife Michelle’s hugging the Queen of England, in London at the G-20 meet, and the latter putting her hand around Michelle’s waist in a reciprocal manner, may be something to rejoice at, for the practitioners of the concept of “Equality for all”, but it reminds me of the healing qualities of a touch, or an embrace.
During a tour of Haryana, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi chose to drive an open Jonga. He stopped to greet the crowds in Rohtak, when an elderly woman finding herself enough close to Mr Clean, beseeched him saying, “Re Raju beta terai haath la kai dekh lyoon(May I feel you by touching you O’ son!)” Rajiv Gandhi is said to have gladly obliged her.. I can imagine the exuberance of the Haryanavi woman on being allowed a “touch and feel” of Rajiv’s cottony, pink cheeks.
The legendary saint Kabir was once accused of spreading hatred against Hindus and Muslims for what he preached was against the hardcore fundamentalist stance in both religions. A complaint was made to the then ruler Sikandar Lodhi.
On inquiry it was found that Kabir claimed to be a disciple of Saint Ramanand. Ramanand refused to own Kabir and informed the king that he didn’t even know as to who Kabir was.
Sikandar Lodhi is said to have summoned both. Since Kabir was a low caste weaver, a curtain was erected between Ramanand and Kabir as per tradition. Ramanand then asked Kabir as to when he received initiation at his hands.
Kabir replied from behind the curtain, “O’ Noble soul, do you remember when on your way to having a bath in the Ganga one day, unmindfully you hurt me on the steps leading on to holy waters, where I lay deliberately to have your blessings. You had then said to me-Ram ka naam le beta (Go son! Have faith in God Almighty!”
Kabir then informed Guru Ramanand that from that day onwards, he had beenpractising his “dhyan” and “bhakti”(meditative concentration and devotion) in the name of his Guru that was Ramanand himself. That was enough for Rama Nand to have himself torn off and pulled down the curtain between him and Kabir. He then rushed to embrace Kabir in the royal court and in the presence of the King to demonstrate his love and blessings for a true disciple.
Embraces are great levelers while bear hugs of course can be dangerous. I am also reminded of Munna Bhai’s “jadoo ki jhappi” and another scene from “Mere Mehboob”—a movie of yesteryear. Rajendra Kumar, feeling the sensation of a touch of Sadhna’s cushiony fingers, sings: Meri rug rug main koi burq si lehar aayee thi Jab tere marmari haathon ko chhua tha maine (I got a pleasant shock and sensation all over my nerves, when I touched your beautiful hands.)
While I hail the ease with which the First Lady of the US could advance to hug the Queen of England, I am also sanguine on the reciprocal gesture shown by the Queen who unlike her predecessors may drop that stiff upper lip to appear more human like.
I am also reminded of Kipling’s “IF”: “If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch”