Among my own people in Varanasi
Posted : October 26, 2005 at 11:17 pm [IST]
I was in Varanasi for a day to attend a family function. It was ’shradh’ of my aunty. We had lost our uncle many years ago. While a function like this should be a painful affair for the acquaintances, normally for an elderly person the occasion is almost a celebration. For almost 10-13 days, the family remains almost untouchable. After the ’shradh’, it joins again in the main stream.
The train journey was convenient courtesy Ashok, my cousin who works for Indian Railways. It was nice that I could meet many from my village and also from some other villages who are our relatives and close friends. And as I enjoy talking about the development going on in the rural areas, I initiated the discussion with a point to ex-teachers from the village with a request to take interest in the village school and to oversee its work and that of the teachers who are totally neglecting education these days. However, I failed in doing that. The people are totally frustrated with the local neighbourly connivances and caste-based politics. Either they do not wish to exert for a change, as in that case they will have to get involved, or they feel even with that no positive result will come out.
I talked on many issues including creating a weekly market, a park in the huge land lying on the southern outskirt of the village, necessity of switch over to commercial crops and plantations, milk production, hatchery, skill training of the local boys, so that they get usefully engaged, and some training for women that makes them earn something additional, but I couldn’t find any positive response. Finally, I also threw an offer to take care of the financial aspect of the project cost for a welfare project such as a healthcare center or skill training facility. However, thereafter they all only listened aptly, but could not come forward with the actual need of the village, some proposal or suggestions. My effort failed. All were having many things to talk against the government, but no will to contribute in any way.
At the fag end of the day, one of the elderly teachers and uncle in relation came out with a request for a substantial donation for building a room at one of the community’s Asharam in Varanasi. When someone will come from the village to Varanasi, he can stay there. After all Varanasi is the place where if some one dies, he goes straight to heaven. And the priest who conducted the function gave me two books of Vimlanand Saraswati- a very learned saintly person, who has established the Asharam on a land donated by the king of Ramnagar. I am expected to send suitable donation to the Asharam. That I shall be doing soon.
- Indra
Category: Religious/Social issues |
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