Troubling Tuesday on Amtrak

Posted on September 23, 2010 by indra

At JFK Airport with Rajesh, Shephali and Svanik


At Little Neck residence of Rajesh

As Anand stated, I was the first from extended Sharma family who was taking a train to travel a major distance in US. I don’t know why but then I decided to take an Amtrak train for getting to Cary in North Carolina from New York.


At Penn Railway Station, New York

After three nights with Rajesh and spending quality loving time with Svanik, on Tuesday September 21, 2010 we got up very early at around 3AM to catch the train that was scheduled for 6.15AM from New York, Penn station. Rajesh didn’t have a dry run to find the traffic that is usually awesome around Manhattan. Rajesh was to return in time to take care of Svanik who would have been alone. Shephali goes early morning to hospital where she is doing her Masters. On previous evening, we had discussed to take a taxi but finally Rajesh decided to do it himself

Traffic was thin at that lean hour, but in a new place I was a scary GPS wonderfully helps reaching the destination. And then after parking on the street itself in a safe place in front of Penn station that appeared to me as an office high rise building we carried the three suitcases and other and went in the basement that houses the station.

Rajesh had to wait for getting the baggage checked in , but when the counter opened, at 5..15 AM, the person manning it said in the train that we were taking we couldn’t check in the baggage. For anxious moment I was cursing myself to having taken the decision. But in the meantime Rajesh talked with the porter on a counter who asked us to rest in waiting room and he would manage to get us in the train with baggage naturally at a cost. Rajesh advised me to pay him well and left.

I was worried as usual. But very soon the man took all the baggage and got us in the train that was in time on the track. There were hardly far passenger on the platform. We got in to the business class

In a new place it was natural to get scary in such a situation. But the train ride was very comfortable. The seats were wide. As one of the suitcases was bigger and heavier, we had to keep the same in front of our seats. For travelling in US, one must keep the weight in each suitcase less than 23 kgs.

But the journey was worth taking it. I could see US from a train I like the train journey even in India. The child in me keeps on seeing all around without a blink. US is certainly pretty industrialized and having a lot of forestry all around. But around Richmond, we found the train taking a different trek. It got delayed by almost an hour

I was in constant touch with Rajesh and then Anand took over. Finally we reached Cary late but pretty well in evening. Anand with Shannon and kids were on the platform to receive us. All worries got off the mind and the happy moments around

Even with companies as GE and other that have done great work in technology related to Railway engine, US is hardly having a developed railway system While china runs the fastest train in the world covering a 700-mile journey in five hours, by comparison America’s Amtrak takes eighteen hours to cover similar distance.

At Mount Rocky Station Platform of Amtrak

I was surprised that the concept of platforms nonexistent in US. The train coach had a small staircase that comes out at the platform that looks like a street. The conductor laid a small stool to help passengers to get down from the train.

I am sure US must go for better and faster railways just as China is going. It will save energy wasted in planes and cars that are the most popular mode of travel in the country. Recently I read about how the governor of California had travelled South Korea, Japan and china to explore possibility of getting a fast train system laid for travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles. I don’t know if Americans will like to switch over to train as and when it comes up.
…….
PS: While Amtrak crossed places such as New Jersey, Baltimore and Richmond, Yamuna kept on talking about some sweet memories of her 1993 visit to Anil Singh in New Jersey and Onkar Singh in Baltimore with Rakesh. Anil Singh is back in India, but Onkar is perhaps still in Baltimore as he is doctor by profession and had a very good practice. Many more acquaintances must be in places en route Amtrak from New York to Cary. Rajesh had been to New Jersey where Radha Khaitan had organized an HM Reunion. However, with time we keep on losing the contact and closeness and even basic courtesy to visit the known ones or be once in a while their host.

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Flying to New York, new Airport, and Air India

Posted on September 20, 2010 by indra

Is it not strange that I was asked to start at 7PM from Noida to catch a flight of Air India for New York that was scheduled to depart at 00.25AM on September 18, 2010? I was to take Yamuna to her doctor’s clinic for an injection so that she would get some relief from pain. Even with an already assured provision of wheel chair for her, I was not sure if she could avoid walking for reaching at the airline counter. However, at the last moment Yamuna agreed to drop the plan of stopover for injection, as she felt better with medicines. The taxi came in time, but the driver was hesitant to accommodate three suitcases. I had to a little tough to the extent of being harsh to get it loaded. We are one of those Indians who don’t believe in travelling light and that too when you are going to a different country where you shall be staying with the families of two of your sons.

The newly built airport is just impressive and world class. We got a porter service for Rs 200. The porter also helped us in getting the wheel chair. As Air India was manning only few counters, there were quite a few passengers in the queue. But the problem came when the porter loaded the three suitcases for check in. The overall weight was within limit, but the weights of two of the suitcase were more than 23 kgs. My nightmare started. I argued and expected that Air India would have some special consideration for senior citizens like us. The counter girl contacted her supervisor. She appeared to be pretty helpful. She took me to her boss, a young Sardarji. Unfortunately, the Youngman was neither courteous nor helpful. I asked him what to do as I didn’t have extra suitcases or bag to shift the weight from the suitcases to make all of them below 23 kgs. He didn’t have any suggestion. He did neither suggest if I could buy some bags or cartons. He didn’t listen. He rudely kept on insisting that I couldn’t travel without getting them within limits. It was just nightmarish. But then the help came from the person manning the wheel chair of Yamuna. He made the porter carrying the baggage to leave the cart. He got a carton and got some item shifted. However, it still didn’t balance the weight. But then he got a friendly Air India counterman and managed to get us through with the problem at a cost of Rs 1000. He got us to immigration. We had to wait on the special counter for the persons with wheel chair, as the officer was missing. Finally we reached the departing gate 24. The man left us and asked us to wait, but took his charge duly wrapped in a paper provided by him. That is the Indian way of making money and we all help it.

The Delhi Airport, built and managed by a private company, is really world class now with décor and facilities competing with any in Singapore, Hong Kong or Tokyo. I can’t compare it with Beijing or Shanghai as I have not visited them. Let someone do that or wait till I see them.

But will the employees of Air India and other government department be an improved lot? Air India must get private or get closed. Except for the reason that the Air India flight takes the shortest time, as it is nonstop one for New York, I would never have preferred it.

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Kashmir Crisis

Posted on September 17, 2010 by indra

For many years, I had been thinking of visiting the heaven on earth. As it appeared last year, I will be able to make it in my life. It got a boost when Popli returned after a holiday in Kashmir. But soon after, the trouble started. Today, I think the hope is bleak.

Is there any solution to Kashmir problem that India and Indians have lived with since its birth as the truncated nation in 1947?

Will the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the Valley bring peace?

Will some more economic packages improve the condition?

What is the ‘azadi’ demanded by the stone pelters?

BJP might have a brand of Hindu Party. But interestingly, none of the government till date including the saffron one showed any restraint on spending on Kashmir. As reported, the Centre spent over Rs 80,000 crore on the state. But the money didn’t flow to the right beneficiary. A handful of families, some of politicians, got richer. According to CAG, Rs 71,988 crore of excess expenditure between 1980 and 2008 is not accounted for.

Are the people in Kashmir more deprived and unemployed than those in other state? Not really. The unemployment rate is 4.21 percent and the per capita income was Rs 21,561 in 2008-09. Is it really frustratingly high or low respectively low causing the crisis? Not really. When India can employ Bangladeshi to the tune of the total unemployed in Kashmir, why can’t the unemployed of Kashmir with open borders get employed in India?

Unfortunately, India remains democracy. Even just hundreds of, may be paid, stone pelters can create crisis. Some unscrupulous can blame Indian armed forces for any death and injury and raise a bogey against it.

Perhaps today India must fight against the unscrupulous and their backers with a change in mindset. The political parties must go the people and convince that they elect the government. Let the people of Kashmir make all the leaders like Gilani, Yashin and Mirwaiz fight the election and transform the corrupt system and bring development that the few ruling families have failed till date.

If the police of the elected state government take responsibility, the armed forces can move in the operative zone along the line of actual control.

However, let every person asking for azadi must understand that India and its people can neither gift or allow the Kashmir to go to Pakistan at any cost. India can’t afford it.

I still dream to see the heaven on earth pretty soon.

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Gandhis Are failing India

Posted on September 15, 2010 by indra

Kashmir is burning. All the country men are watching the situation with immense interest. But the government is indecisive. The country doesn’t have a Prime Minister who takes the responsibility of the situation, as Gandhis have placed him in the chair. He hardly knows till date his scope of authority. And the Prime Minister in waiting doesn’t have Kashmir or for that matter any of the critical problems of the country on his priority. He is busy in building his party. If I am wrong, can anyone on earth tell me if Man Mohan Singh or Mr. Chidambaram can find a solution of Kashmir or Naxalites?

I wish young Rahul Gandhi would have shown some real interest in these two most burning problems that can endanger the very existence of the nation. Instead of focusing on Bihar and charming the young women in Santi Niketan, Rahul Gandhi would have tried to get a personal feel of Kashmir problem. Fortunately, most of the leaders in Kashmir valley today are from younger generation and well educated. Rahul would have gone into a conclave with Omar and Mehbooba. He would have taken the help of Priyanks Gandhi too to deal with Mahbooba Mufti. He could have kept Sachin Pilot and his wife into his closer circle for discussion on Kashmir. He could have invited Yashin Mullick, Sajjad Lone and Mirwaiz for personal chat on the issue and would have impressed on the need of maintaining peace in the valley. Both Mirwaiz and Lone are sons of fathers gunned down by militants. Rahul could have understood from them the Kashmir first hand. His inherent leadership quality would have got a real test. I am sure the issues involved are much more than what appears in media. The informal dialogues light have helped into finding a permanent solution. Why is Rahul not taking such a drastic step? Why is he not getting involved in the real national issues of the day? Is Sonia Gandhi against his involvement or is Rahul scared about his security based on the advices of his inner circle or the intelligence?

Will Rahul agree that with each passing day, the problems will get accentuated if it is not solved fast enough with determination? Is not Rahul not making the problem insolvable even by him when he takes over as Prime minister that the whole nation knows he is to do very soon?

I still hope the Gandhis must take the control of the governance in hand if they feel that they can do any sacrifice for India and not allow the situation to slip beyond the possibility of bringing it back on track?

Today no Indian has any moral right to blame the opposition for this situation, as the main opposition has lost its respectability of Atal’s days.

All Indians wish a miracle to happen to put back the nation on right track. And so Gandhis must not wait any more and take a plunge to save the country with keep Kashmir and other regions as integral part of it or get out of the country’s politics.
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PS: And when I expected written above, Rahul has come out with a statement on Kashmir: “Kashmir is a tough place and Omar is a youngster, give him time and support.” Doea the country expect only this much from the Prime Minister in waiting?

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Failing to Deliver

Posted on September 14, 2010 by indra

If I self review or someone else looks into my performance of my entries in my blog, I am slowing steadily. I am slipping on my determination to write one page every day as my job of the day. There is no dearth of issues happening in this country of billion plus population. However, I fail to do that. Many a times I hardly feel like sitting on my working desk. Is it age or something else? Has the enthusiasm to express my opinions on various urgent issues of the nation or the state, died?

By nature, I can work on just one or two tasks in hand. However, even at this stage of life, we carry many responsibilities and with that it’s worries. It is not possible to isolate myself.

Since we returned from a trip to village home, Yamuna is having acute sciatica pain. Till date she hardly finds herself comfortable in carrying out even her routine personal tasks. Doctors and scientists have failed to find solutions of even age-old deceases. Why should we keep on claiming the miraculous advancement made in medical sciences and practices?

But I find it funnier if one doctor diagnoses it as a pain from deteriorated bone joints and other as one from nerves. I wish if a patient is under treatment for various ailments by different doctors, the concerned doctors must consult each other on own intiatives and discuss the side effects of any of the prescribed medicine. Yamuna is also having thyroid though now stabilized with a particular doze of medicine every day and acute gastric troubles for a long time.

We are to leave for US in next four days. We shall again go to the doctor today morning. He is at least very good to give an appointment today, though his assistant had refused. Yamuna is determined to take the trip. I don’t know how all that will happen.

I want to share something additional. The doctor has increased his fee from Rs 300 to Rs 400. Is not the increase too much, that too for the senior citizens living on own?

These and many such things keep me away from the writing desk and I keep on failing.

PS: From September 17 onwards, if we get on the flight, I shall be trying to write, but it will be from US.

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Bihar Election: Have Single Point Manifesto and Ensure Outcome

Posted on September 11, 2010 by indra

Bihar has gone in election mode. Every political party and group will come out its manifesto, the list of their promises, plans and programmes to bring the heaven on this earth if elected. I wish for a change, it could be a single point manifesto by all the parties.

Can providing quality education in the next five years be made a single point manifesto for Bihar by all? And here is the way, it can be planned and achieved.

Let all the 243 MLAs get established at least one new model school (as defined by the central government) up to class XII or an ITI in their constituency and take the responsibility of its sustained operation. Can at least the educated voters demand and take a commitment from the candidates during their campaign? Each member of legislative council must also do the same in their constituencies. For those selected for the cabinet, the number may be higher.

1. The new state government will exert and get all the plans of the union government for setting up educational institutes executed fast by facilitating it without creating any trouble. For example, the union cabinet has already given its consent to open 1,728 residential schools (1,073 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas for girls and 655 co-ed residential schools for homeless and street children) in backward areas at a cost of Rs 3,808 crore. A large number of them can come in Bihar’s quota because of its backwardness.

2. Prominent personalities of Bihar must assist the projects such as Chandrasekaran’s S41 realized: Chardrasekaran wants to build and run 6,000 state-of-the-art schools in rural India, about 10 each in 600 districts over the next 10 years. MB Verma, the former programme director for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project, from Bihar signed on with the S4I project in Bihar. Can many more like Mr. Verma come up in to take this “tremendous challenge”?

3. The new government permits each SP and DM of the districts, each IAS officers of the rank of secretary and above of Bihar to take initiative to get set up one or more schools in rural Bihar as an additional task. With all the networking and relations, it will certainly be a doable philanthropic task. Let the officers get the institutes named after their parents as incentive. Bihar should not mind some leaks in the process.

4. Let every Principal of prominent affiliated colleges also take up any such initiative through public donation for expanding education. The faculty of the colleges can certainly adopt some five to ten rural schools for improving its management.

5. Each engineering college must strive for expanding its capacity and taking at least 5 ITIs under its wing.

6. All big temple trusts must take up the task of education as mandatory.

7. As it appears the central government very soon may make it mandatory for all companies to invest 2% of their net profit in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Taking the clues, why should not the new government of Bihar provide all sorts of incentive including providing government land for setting up educational institutes of all sorts to the willing industrial houses and business men?

Let the huge human resources of Bihar come out of Bihar fully educated, skilled, and employable for exploring the living in this big world. Is it not the single point manifesto that can take care of hundreds of promises and plans made in the manifestos by various political parties?

But as basic requirement, all the candidates must take a vow that they don’t believe keeping the people at large in dark, ignorant and uneducated so that their clan and kin keep on flourishing perpetually.

Will they?

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Nano in News: Good, Bad and Indifferent

Posted on September 8, 2010 by indra

Nano’s launch was historic for Ratan Tata, Tata Motors and even India, the emerging manufacturing power. Mamta made mess. Modi became the rescuer. Ratan Tata proved every skeptic ones wrong.

And now one can see little cute Nanos, though not many, on even on pot holed roads in many cities. With main operation gradually shifting to the main plant at Sanand Gujarat, the monthly production of Nanos is increasing. Tata Motors will very soon complete its commitment of selling Nanos at Rs one lac pretty soon and go for accepting new bookings.

Interestingly, as reported, even some rich prefers Nano as an additional car for the family for it being cost effective, be it for emergency shopping such as breads or milk in the morning or fetching the maid from her house. I suggested once my sons in US to have a Nano along with their gas guzzling cars. I am sure many Americans may follow.

Tata Motors are also planning multi-country launches of Nano. Besides Tata Motors many cranky Indians like this old man at seventy plus is hoping a great global brand getting created by this frugally engineered and manufactured Indian car. Will it happen?

Force Motors Ltd chairman Abhay Firodia who appears to be one from my school, said recently at the 50th annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers in New Delhi:

“The first 50 years of automobile industry belonged to the US, next to Europe, and then Japan took over in the last 50. I am waiting for a paradigm shift to happen, which could make India dominate at the global front,” “The Nano is perhaps one such step taken in that direction.”

Tata Motors are planning many versions- diesel, electric, hybrid of Nanos for different market spanning African, Latin American and former Soviet Russian countries besides European and American market. Will Tata Motors be able to make iPad of Nanos?

Indian auto sector is seeing boom. Qualitatively and export-wise, Indian performance has been significantly better. Even Chinese are somewhat worried. Will India become a globally significant, if not the top auto manufacturing country? One can certainly hope for it with the country’s progress towards product development.

However, Nano is also in news for wrong reason with media shown a Nano in flame on road. Will the technocrats of Tata Motors with its synergy from various developed countries find a quick enough answer to the cause and plug it to reach zero level?

I was shocked to read the words of Ratan Tata on the issue in the general body meeting. Tata said, “We are going to do a thorough and detailed investigation on the incident. As and when we are able to determine the cause, we will make a statement.”

I expected a better answer from the head of Tata Motors, the 19th largest automotive company and also the 15th largest commercial vehicle maker in the world?

Is it not a little indifferent approach, something that I had thought till now is the prerogative only of an executive of Indian government? Is it behind the reasons of absence of the customers excitement about Nanos?

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Bihar Visit: Some Whom I Met

Posted on September 6, 2010 by indra


My conversation with my maternal uncle Chandra Mani Tiwari at Sasaram during my short stay revealed some value issues. We are getting miser on love, affection, respect, and sacrifice. Usually Mamaji earlier never got tired of talking very high of his grandson Golu, who got a very good rank in IIT-JEE and is now in IIT, Delhi. I did also write about Golu’s excellent performance. However, Mamaji this time was very shore about Golu’s detached behavior with family members. With success in life, a person must remain humble and respect the family bond. ‘Vidya Dadati Vinatyam’. And I find him unhappy and dissatisfied even in a family of four grown sons to take care of him. Somehow, the children these days are getting less sensitive about the elders. Perhaps the main reason also may be unexpected sensitivity with increasing helplessness with age. With daughters-in-law in Sasaram as well as Ramnagar working as teachers, Mamaji finds himself alone with none to attend to him.

While at Pipra I distinctly noticed an unusual and disturbing change. Hardly anyone goes and spends time with others that was very common earlier. It’s not that people are busier these days. The disease of egomania is spreading fast. Why should we go to others if they don’t come? I used to see many visiting us at our home but hardly few did this time. Is Pipra becoming Pleasanton and Noida? Is it because of tremendous rise in the prices of land and also yields and MSP of rice paddy and wheat? I wish younger generation don’t copy wrong examples.


One day when I returned after visiting the school, I found Basdeo baba waiting for me. I was pained to see the wrestler of yester years as a helpless person. Years ago Basdeo baba suffered a paralysis attack. He couldn’t get the right treatment. His hand fingers can’t hold anything. It’s difficult for him to take food. He somehow holds a spoon and eats. I found him fighting to take the sweets that my aunty had sent for him. Veeru, our house assistant helped him. I really got a shock. Old age and decease makes life miserable. His eldest son is an M.Tech in metallurgy from Institute of Technology, BHU. He is in good position in SAIL. Unfortunately, he has hardly anything to do with his family here in village. Basdeo baba kept on talking about him; how he carried rice on his head in rainy seasons to sell in Sasaram and take the money to pay his son’s dues in Varanasi. Basdeo baba also expressed concern about the marriage of his son’s daughter and his eldest son’s inability to arrange that. I liked Basdeo baba since my childhood for different reasons. One was certainly his inquisitiveness. It was very difficult to convince him that the earth rotates. Even this time he enquired if I know why the vultures are getting extinct. I told him, “May be because of the gradual reduction of the number of cattle, as tractors have replaced bullocks totally in the village.” I don’t know if my answer satisfied him. But he didn;t expressed himself.


Chandi Chacha is younger to me in age and perhaps the nearest in the extended family at Pipra. He did his schooling from nearby Samahuta High School. I remember him as one with very bad handwriting in his childhood. One day I got the surprise of my life when I came to know that he has completed M.A in English and after training become a teacher of English. I still can’t imagine how he would have been doing a justice in teaching the language to his students. He has retired but like many in Bihar is still working with the school on contract, as the teacher for English are in short supply in Bihar. He is very sweet to talk with. Unfortunately unlike his cousin who studied with him and got a job with Indian Railways, Chandi chacha’s sons have not done well and fighting to establish themselves still. I tried to convince Chandi chacha to work for improving the condition of the village school, but somehow because of the village politics or personal reason he didn’t commit.

I could not find a single soul that is ready to take some interest in any project related to the improvement of village. It’s all due to the present Mukhia. Unfortunately, no one speaks against him openly. And I found myself helpless. The rural India still lacks good education, as Maithili Saran Gupta, the famous Hindi poet has written and so remains short of happiness and peace.

Today I did a search for Pipra on Google and surprisingly got a shock of life with the result.

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IIT: Medical Education or Medical Facility

Posted on September 4, 2010 by indra

Director of IIT, Kharagpur had a plan to start a medical college under the governance of IIT. Health ministry and MCI didn’t allow that to happen. Unfortunately, any change in the way government works in India is difficult. Who will make the two ministries agree to a good proposal with ineffective Prime Minister as head?

I am still of view that IIT, Kharagpur must have a super-specilty hospital that should be the biggest and best in the state outside Kolkata. Besides catering to the needs of the residents in the campus it must cater to general population of the hinterland districts. It can certainly come under PPP model with help of the rich alumni of the institute all around the world. I am sure many big industrial houses such as Tatas can also IIT, Kharagpur in the project. Tata Steel MD, B. Muthuraman, himself an IIT alumnus himself can be of help.

And nothing stops IIT to have some world class courses in medical engineering. The proposed hospital can become the laboratory for many such courses.

Rohit Kumar died in 2009 because of the poor facility and negligent doctors. His death had sparked protests by students, forcing Damodar Acharya to resign as institute director on “moral grounds”. I had visited the facility once when Rakesh fell ill once.

Midnapur had remained backward with hardly any significant material development. The location of IIT in that barren land of Santhals could not attract major industrial houses or knowledge entrepreneurs to set up industries and make it industrialized enough. Could not the very first IIT be Stanford to see a silicon valley or electronic district come up around it?

Unfortunately, over the years the students as well as the teaching communities have picked all the traits of the left unions and perhaps can’t think of making some remarkable contribution in developing the region that would have been their moral responsibility.

I wish IIT, Kharagpur goes ahead with a project of big hospital to serve the region. I do also hope that the coordinator of alumni relations at the institute initiates the idea with the groups he interacts.

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Pipra, My Village: Some Landmarks

Posted on September 3, 2010 by indra

Roads are coming from two sides to Pipra. One is preferred from and to Sasaram, and the other from and towards Varanasi. I have a small land still in my name near the Village Panchayat Bhawan. It’s on periphery of a large chunk of government land that could have been developed as a good park. Some families of the deprived class or with strong men have encroached upon the major part of the land in south. My uncle who used to work for Birla Jute Mills had got built a pond there with help of charity of villagers once. I wish the Panchayat could revive that as a water body through NAREGA. It could add to the glory of the village.

Besides the school that has come up in last few years, a co-operative mini- rice mill is coming up as part of the old government godown complex built by my uncle when he was Mukhia. I never knew that someone inside the village has turned entrepreneur and running a mini-rice mill also. Still the rising number of unemployed young men with little education or skill, particularly of forward castes, must be the biggest concern. I think there are still hesitant to migrate and take up any menial job in other prosperous states. The same in the traditionally backward castes are migrating out as the job opportunity in the village is getting squeezed with mechanical means taking over the operations very fast. (See the photograph of the huge harvester lying covered between the two temples) There are five harvesters in a village with total population of around 3000 beside about 40 tractors. As it appears very soon someone in the village will invest in Paddy Transplanter too.

Oldest Temple in Pipra

While the oldest temple in the centre of the village survives, it certainly requires renovation and an overall make up all around. Particularly, the drainage needs improvement. The lane to the Kali temple starts from near the temple and that is really shabby with water logging.

Kali-sthan

Kali-sthan remains the most popular place of worship that is most visited by the women of all community for various family functions as well as during festivals. On Rakshabandhan this year, there was a big function with havan costing thousands of rupees. I came to know of it as my uncle took a lead in organizing it. I visited Kali-sthan with uncle and discussed certain additional construction to make it more comfortable for those who come to worship. I consider it important, as Kali-sthan is almost the door to the part of village that is inhabited by the so-called Harijans (word coined by Mahatama) or Dalits (word more fashionable these days).

Covered hravester between two temples. Front one built by Lakshman and the at the rear one by Basdeo baba

Over the years some other temples also have come up. Lakshman was a barber who has got constructed a temple in north of the village. He was one of the most visible persons of his time. It took long time as it was through small donations from small people. But I consider that as an example of the success of will power of even a small man.

Statue of Hanumanji and Basdeo baba’s Temple

And very near to this, another temple of Hanumanji has come up. Basdeo Baba has been behind its construction. Basdeo Baba was a wrestler in his youth and he had his ‘akhara’ nearby. I did contribute to this temple Rs 20,000 for the statue when he asked me once during my visit to the village.

According to my uncle there is one more temple of Shiva in north outside the village. There is a plan to renovate it. I could not vast that.

I still pity that the major community of the village and particularly the educated lot including former headmasters and teachers don’t take interest in the school and do something collectively or individually to make it the most important landmark of the village. I have talked vociferously to get the school upgraded up to class XII. I am ready to help to any extent. A school up to class XII and Trade school must remain the focus of the well-wishers of the village.

Interestingly, some who came to meet me including Basdeo Baba suggested that I must build something in the village to perpetuate the memory of my ancestors and mine. I tried to ask them what I should do. None provided any specific answer. They left it to me. Should I go for building another small temple as someone as I can’t finance something like Akhardham? Unfortunately, I can only provide some finance but can’t remain there to execute. I am still in search of a good thing to be done by me in my village and its executer. I wish it would have been for education. I wish to happen soon.

I am sure many villages in Bihar and other states must be having similar landmarks and men like me in dilemma of doing something but not knowing what.

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