Nearly Lost Battle Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

 

Nearly Lost Battle

Author: Dr. K.S.Kang

Twenty twenty year proved to be more than extraordinary just like its strange figure. This year had unfolded a number of unprecedented things like its beginning with one of the worst crisis faced by humanity since World War II in the form of COVID-19 pandemic world wide and then the race to find its causes, prevention and race to find its possible vaccine. Meanwhile it was clear that till soe vaccine or definite cure to this malady is found we have to rely on preventive measures like using masks, washing or sanitising hands repeatedly and maintaining proper social distance, so as not only to protect ourselves but others as well from this deadly infection. Since it is seen that humanity faces one or the other crisis after hundred years. In 1919-1920 it was Spanish Flu so naturally this year had to be different for human race but nobody had thought that this year would create such a havoc to man world wide.

As this year was entering its last quarter administration of my state decided to hold elections for local civic bodies in rural and urban area though it was decided that in these elections COVID guidelines would be followed meticulously. A bottle of Sanitizer was kept at the entrance of hall where training was to be held. The rule of no mask,no entry was followed strictly and the seating arrangement was done with a view to keep social distance. After training on a particular date we were sent to our respective zones to ascertain minimum assured facilities in the polling booths allotted to us as the polling parties were required to stay there on the polling day. After a tour of a couple of days we returned back to district headquarters for the second training along with the polling parties and to escort them to their respective polling booths. Authorities had assured time and again during the training sessions that every material has been checked doubly and put in their kits in adequate quantity and similarly the machines have been checked doubly and are in fit and perfect condition.

But next day as soon as the mock poll at one of my booth started the machine showed error. Without wasting any time I informed the authorities at once exposing the hollow claims of the administration. Soon a master trainer and engineer turned up but they were unable to rectify it as a result of which change of machine was recommended and I replaced the spare machine that was given to me from the district headquarters in the morning of poll day. Mock poll in the new machine was also held as a result of which polling could start only at that booth nearly half an hour late. My problems did not end here that day.

But by the time polling started normally in this booth machine of neighbouring booth started malfunctioning, even though it worked during mock-poll. But as soon as poll started it started showing error. Thank God that Master Trainer and Engineer were still there and as they were unable to rectify it so they informed the district authorities and Tehsildar brought a new set of machines from the headquarters and replaced it in the booth but by the time the polling started it was already an hour behind schedule. Thank God there were no more further surprises for me that da. Thereafter everything went normal and at the end of the day the polls were closed, machines were sealed and all the documents with several envelopes and formats were deposited at different counters and we were let off by 9 p.m in the evening of that day. This time district authorities declared that Presiding Officer and Polling Parties will be relieved by their respective Zonal magistrates and not by Returning Officers that produced some strange unpleasant situations as in a hurry to be free some of the polling officers even forgot the common human decency that was quite depressing and unfortunate.

Great October Revolution in My Life Author: Dr. K.S.Kang

 

Great October Revolution in My Life

Author: Dr.K.S.Kang

One of the most significant event that took place in human society nearly a century ago, also known as Bolshevik Revolution brought revolutionary changes in the history of Russia and the life of Russisans. One such event that took place in my, suddenly out of blue, last month, was order of my employer naming as the head of the college in which I was teaching. And the thing became more significant as there were nearly five members of faculty, who were senior to me and even one claimed to be senior to everybody in the college. On the top of that this order came at tail end the last week of the month. I could have refused to accept the change but my own colleagues cajoled me to accept this assignment as not accepting the assignment would delay the salary of nearly hundred employees unnecessarily. So after much heart burning among my peers and seniors I took over as Principal of the college. After a couple of days the month of October came and as in this month state was celebrating 150^th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. As there was pandemic in this world this year so government decided to create awareness among the people regarding the use of masks, sanitizers and significance of social distancing among the people to encounter the pandemic. So the first function that I attended as the Chief of the college was to chair a symposium on the significance of the day 2^nd October that was birth not only of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi but of second Prime Minister of the nation Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri as well. The Chief guest of this function was District Education Officer- a lady who was daughter of our teacher and senior to me in the college. It was followed by another webinar which was hosted by the college, and as it was hosted by the college so naturally I chair this webinar which was perhaps the first webinar of my life that I chaired. It was followed by inauguration of rallies, administering of oaths to the young people of the country.

At that time another important event that was going on in the campus was exams not only of Mohan Lal Sukhadia University Udaipur but of Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi and Vardhman Mahaveer Open University,Kota. As Chief of the College Staff I was expected to act as Central Superintendent of the Centre. These exams were held in three shifts from 7 a.m to 10 a.m, 11a.m to 2 p.m and 3 p.m to 6 p.m. These exams kept me quite busy that some times I went to college in the 7.30 a.m in the morning and returned back at 6.15 p.m in the evening. Due to these exams I did not feel when the whole month passed. I was able to handle these exams without any interruption in my daily routine due to the fact that my house was just five minutes walk from the office of the college. So I could come to my home according to my need and convenience for example on a normal day I went to college in 7.30 a.m in the morning then I used to return at 9.0 a.m for breakfast, then after wash and change i used to go to college at 10.30 a.m to college and then returned at 1.30 p.m for lunch and then finally to college at 3.00 p.m and return back after the end of the exam. One thing that I observed was that as soon as I took over the charge the level of respect suddenly rose in the eyes of my colleagues, and they started seeing positive attributes in my personality. In the period of one month God empowered me to do the normal routine work of a number of my retired and ex-colleagues. Now I was beginning to feel the heat of administration stress and I started wishing ardently that now change should come soon. My wish was granted as I received orders from my employers to hand over the charge to the senior most faculty member and I readily complied it the very next day though it was honour and privilege to head the institution in which you have studied nearly forty years ago and have served it for nearly two decades.

Realization Author: Dr. K.S.Kang

 

Realization

Dr. K.S. Kang

It never occurred to Mangat Ram that he had come alone in this world and will have to go to the next world alone till he was infected by Corona virus. Till then he was being  looked after reasonably well by his son, daughter-in-law and grand children. After the demise of his wife two years ago he preferred to live in the outer room of his four room house that he had constructed by taking loan from the bank against his salary. He had paid back the loan well before the year of his retirement so as to avoid post retirement trouble of any sort. He had chosen the outer room of his house so as to avoid any type of interference in the lives of his son’s family. Now due to his growing age he had lost much of his appetite but still his daughter-in-law was giving him enough food that he used to give surplus food to a stray dog that used to sit in front of the room of his house.

                A night before he fell ill, he felt uneasy and developed fever and sore throat. As his fever did not come down his son informed the nearest medical facilities of the town that brought in an ambulance full of medical workers in their PPE kits and masks and took him to hospital at once and took his sample by inserting a long narrow stick in his nose. They also took sample of other members of the family.  After a couple of days the ambulance returned back to take him to quarantine centre as he has tested positive for Corona. As soon as they came to know that he was infected everybody tried to avoid him as if he was a pariah, an untouchable cur. Even his son stood at the threshold of his house while medical authorities were putting him forcefully as if he had committed some crime and his daughter-in-law was standing at the innermost edge of the house holding his grandson who wanted to see where these medical authorities were taking his grandfather. At that time when he needed sympathy, care and attention of the people as he too was shocked to get this news that he is suffering from a malady that is simply incurable. As ambulance was carrying him to Quarantine Centre situated outside the town he saw from the window of the ambulance that the stray dog whom he used to give his leftover food was following him.

                At the Quarantine Centre also everybody treated him like an untouchable. Even doctors feared to come near him and attendant staff threw pills and capsules from a distance as if he was some stray dog. They treated him like a sinner as if his getting infected is responsible for their lives too. Next day he saw that the dog who was following him has somehow tracked him and was sitting outside his room. From the meagre meals he received at the Centre he managed to send some food by greasing the palm of one of the medical attendant who used to clean his room twice. Though this attendant used to deliver food to the dog but he was unable to comprehend why this man was sharing his food with a stray dog even at the time when it is not certain whether he will live or die. Even his friends and relatives did not inquire about him and they even refused to take his calls as if virus travelled through radio waves of the instrument. Mangat Ram had led a respectable and decent life as he was a middle rung government employee and even after retirement he was leading a reasonably good life on his pension and out of his income he had tried to help his friend and relatives in their need according to his capacity but now everybody was neglecting and ignoring him. Even the medical staff who was supposed to be doing noble work of serving humanity with humility and politeness treated him rudely and neglected him at every point. Even he had provided sufficiently comfortable life to his family out of his income and even after retirement he tried to bring something for everybody on the festivals out of his pension that his uncle used to say that would remain with you till the last day of your life. But still even his near and dear ones have ignored and neglected him that he was completely broken down and he was more inflicted with this neglect than with the virus. He felt more pain at this than the disease.

                Though he did not wish to live any more in this selfish, egocentric world but still due to his inbuilt immunity from child hood and as a result of his taking prescribed medicine religiously he recovered and became normal in a fortnight. After he got well he took his faithful dog and took a stern decision not to return to his son’s house this strange disease had made him realize that he had come alone in this world and nobody is going to accompany him on the journey from this world. So he left quarantine centre along with his faithful dog and left for some unknown destination as he had enough pension on which he can take care of himself and his faithful dog for the rest of his life. When Mangat Ram did not return for a month his son came to Quarantine Centre to inquire about him the only reply that he could get was from the medical attendant who used to clean Mangat’s room that he did not disclose his destination when he left the centre along with his dog but the only thing he said was that he wished for everybody’s welfare but now he will lead the rest of his life alone so that he can get used to travel alone after his death.      

 

Mother in Western Literature Author Dr. K.S.Kang

                                          Mother in Western Literature

Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

God could not be everywhere, so he created Mother

Mother is the symbol of creativity,positivity, affection and devotion. Not only human beings but even the mothers of birds and beasts can go to any extent and struggle to save the life of her young ones. Literature has given adequate space to mother in every kind of literature. In Russian literature there is even a work by the name The Mother by famous Russian author Maxim Gorky in which the protagonist becomes the mother of not only an individual but of the entire nation and tribe. She not only serves her son but also the cause of revolution by helping her son in various work like distribution of pamphlets.

Another work on mother is also a work by Maxim Gorky but it is a short story Mother of a Traitor in which a lady’s son becomes a rebel who wants to conquer his own town where he had spent his childhood. This lady is in dilemma whether to support her son or her town where she had spent her youth and given birth to this ungrateful wretch. She is looked down upon by the people of the town as they now that she is mother of a person who has become a threat to their city. But they do not harm her or kill her. One day she takes a decision and goes to the rulers of the town to take their permission to leave the town. They give the permission reluctantly. She leaves the town with a heavy heat and reaches the camp of her son, who is overjoyed to see his mother as he was restraining to attack the town as his mother was in it. Now he makes plan to attack the town. Mother tries to persuade him not to create violence and slaughter in his own hometown just to satisfy his ambition and lust of conquest. When she sees that he is blinded by ambition and lust for power she takes decision and fulfills dual responsibility of acting mother towards her son as well as mother towards her town. She stabs him with a knife and kills him and thus becomes a mother of her town by saving the innocent people from the bloodshed and violence and she acts as mother of her son by killing herself with the same dagger.

Next work on the mother is a play by Bertolt Brecht Mother Courage and Her Children in which a lady runs a canteen in the battlefield during a battle to look after her children. Though she had taken a bold decision to carry on business even during the uncertainties of war. But she takes this risk for the sake of her children. The real mother courage that emerges in the play is her daughter who is dumb but she saves the innocent lives of the people of the town by giving then a warning of approaching foe by beating the drum though she loses her life during it. So she sacrifices her life to save innumerable lives of the people living in the town by upsetting the plans of the enemy. Another work on the mother is a beautiful lyrical poem by famous poet William Cowper whose title is On the Receipt of Mother’s Picture out of Norfolk which is the story of an orphan who had lost his mother in his childhood and after a gao of twenty years he gets a portrait of his mother from one of his relative living in Norfolk. Mother has figured almost in every genre of literature whether it is play, poem , short story or a novel.   

Keep your knees off our neck and I can't Breathe Author: Dr. Kang

“Get your knees off our necks” and “ I can’t breathe”

Author: Dr. K.S.Kang

Another incident that has gained world wide attention is death of an Afro-American gentleman George Floyd in police custody in USA. Though he died in police custody but the action of the white police officer who put his knee on the neck for nearly nine minutes became the cause of his death. During this agony he could utter only two sentences “ I can’t breathe” and “Keep your knee of my neck”. These two sentences have become the icons and symbols of revolt and rebellion against oppression and exploitation. This incident had triggered rallies and protest against exploitation of any kind in the world  be it based on race, colour, gender, caste, religion or minority, region or language. There is hardly any part of the world that is untouched by exploitation of the one or the other kind. In fact in every age humanity has suffered under the discrimination of  the one or the other kind often leading to violence and riots.

            Sometimes administrative set up of the establishment becomes so insensitive and ruthless that it does not give heed to the genuine demands of human society in order to lead a reasonable decent and dignified life. A man does not live by food alone he needs respect, dignity, affection and friendship that makes his life worth living. Though it is true that the perfect and true equality in human society is poetry, it is only an ideal that can be visualized but never achieved. Yet the most basic rights and amenities of life need to be assured by the establishment to all the people without any distinction so that every body gets chance of equal opportunity to lead he life of his choice and to express his views without any fear even if his views do not toe the official line of the government of the day. But in today’s societies rich and the powerful people deny even the basic minimum rights to the poor. They are not even given the option to choose the way to die leave aside life. In every epoch of human history the resourceful people ride over the resourceless and poor people in the name of feudalism, slavery, capitalism, and even in a theocratic state. So the slogan given by this movement have become the symbols of revolt and rebellion of suffering humanity against the exploitation of any kind in any part of the world whether it is from one section of society or from the establishment of the day.

            Normally the government expects every citizen to obey its law and pay taxes and duties honestly. Though it is a form of legalized loot yet people pay taxes in the hope of getting better life facilities. But most of the fund collected through taxes is rarely utilized for public welfare. Most of it is used to strengthen the power of the state by procuring the latest weapons of mass destruction and strengthening the security agencies like police and army that can be used to scuttle freedom, including freedom to express your opinion. And in this process the genuine human demands of the society like health , education and justice are grossly ignored. Most of the states use Police and army to silence their opponents both external as well as internal and sometimes try to silence the voice of protest, truth and righteousness. When citizens of a country find the environment too stifling that they have to think twice before uttering even a truth out of the fear that it may not be liked by the establishment of the day. When governments keep their knees on the neck of the people too much and too long, with the help of police and army, they have no option but to say

                  “ I want to breathe” and “ I can’t breathe”.     

Jai Corona Mata Author: Dr. K.S Kang

Jai Corona Mata             

           Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

            When any trouble become unsurmountable  Indian learn to adjust and live with it by granting it the status of a deity,. In ancient times they accorded this status to the forces of nature like fire, water, earthquake, rain, thunderstorm the Sun, The Moon and the Ocean. Then the same status was given to some seemingly unconquerable maladies like Chicken Pox,  Small Pox, Measles and typhoid. It is believed that my appeasing this destructive force through worship and offerings it will spare them and the peace and prosperity will prevail on the earth. It is believed by the Indians that by offering red clothes and bangles to a particular goddess the disease is cured as the goddess causing it is appeased.

            Similarly in the current crisis Indians have decided to adjust with it as it is going to stay with the human society atleast for some time. Though the scientific method of avoiding it is by wearing masks, gloves, using sanitizers and keeping social distance. But women of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and even Assam have created a new goddess Corona and even devised the system of worshiping it. They make offerings to its small idol made in the earthen lamp and then they take it to the bank of some river and bury it there and then hope that it had gone and now it will not return to harm them or atleast it will spare them even if it harm others. Perhaps with time some people may master some technique to tame  this virus in such a fashion that it will harm only their opponents and enemy and not their friends, family members and followers and then it will become a business that can withstand any shock of the share market and any depression in world economy.

            This pandemic seems to have infected not only human being but even Gods too and even non-living beings. So as to give message to the people on the importance of wearing masks and keeping in isolation a number of idols of Gods and goddesses in the temples are with masks. In Rajasthan even one God went into quarantine for a period of 14 days and He gave darshan to devotees only after the period of quarantine ended. Corona seems to have infected non-living mechanical things too. Administration machinery is considered as mechanical, impersonal and insensitive and some times even ruthless. In the hurry to be the first India became one of the first nation of the world to impose lockdown. Though elsewhere the Curve of the number of Corona Patients had flattened and gone down in India the number of patients kept on increasing till date. Instead of flattening the curve of number of corona patients it appears that country has succeeded only in flattening the curve of economic growth. Due to lockdown the wheel of economic growth came to stand and still with the closure of industries and factories and unemployment spiked due to loss of jobs causing hardships to the poor and resourceless people of the country. It appears as if India has repeated the history. After independence India has chosen the path of mixed economy in the hope of reaping the benefits of both Capitalist system and Socialist or Planned Economy but it has ended in getting the demerits of both the systems rather than its advantages. It seems we have again tripped between the two stools first of hurriedly called lockdown and now premature easing of restrictions that may increase the number of cases with the movement of the people across the country.

The Pandemic seems to have infected even the Indian Railways, that were known world wide for its excellent services and punctuality. But only God knows what happened to the special Shramik trains that were run by the Government or Indian Railways to ferry the migrant labourers to their native states. First of all these trains these trains stopped at number of unsecheduled stops for such a long time that by the time it reached the destination after a journey of 90 hours they were late by twelve to fourteen hours. Secondly the original route chart handed over the drivers was laid aside, only God knows at whose orders that trains were diverted and digressed so much that the train that was bound for Ranchi reached Huderabad. It is true that India is a land of miracles but such a miracle had been seen with Indian Railways for the first time. Finally since railways were plying only goods trains during the lockdown so they seem to have forgotten that railways are also meant for human beings so they did not care for the food and water for the passengers as a result of which Railways made its own humble contribution to the toll of this pandemic as railway has killed sleeping people under its wheels as well as the people traveling in it due to lack of food , water and even air. One theory that was in the air behind this rail mismanagement was that the industrialist and capitalist lobby deliberately did this so as to discourage the labour to go to their native states other wise who will run these factories and industries once the lockdown is eased. Though people also believe that this muddle could have been avoided if the drivers of these trains had begun the journey with a loud shout of “ Jai Corona Mata” equally echoed by the traveling passengers.  

Corona Warriors Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

Corona Warriors

Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

Humanity is fighting the Corona menace at different fronts where people without caring for their personal safety have jumped into it as a result of which some of them have even  got infected leading to the supreme sacrifice in the service of humanity. At the forefront of this battle are our health services workers- doctors, Nurses, Ward boys and other hospital staff who are waging this battle armed with just a mask, sanitizer, gloves and PPE kit. Though they are trying some medicines also like hydroxycholoroquine that is used in treatment of malaria and other drugs used in the cure of swine flu and aids yet no authentic and final vaccine or cure is yet to be found in the world. A grand salute to health workers, particularly doctors who are fighting this battle with a limited resources available with them and thus taking the risk of their lives by exposing themselves to a great probability of getting infected. A number of doctors, nurses and health workers have lost their lives in the world.  

            At the other front Police and security agencies implementing law and order and discipline among the people like wearing masks, using sanitizers, staying indoors and social distancing so as to contain the virus are also doing commendable job as the only weapon that they have at their disposal is mask and they are also equally prone to being infected while doing their duty. In this crisis besides regulating traffic and maintaining law and order helping health workers in tracing infected people has also become their job that has exposed them to the risk of getting infected in the process.

            On the third front are the social organization whose members are creating awareness in the society against Corona and the need of staying at home during lock down and use of masks, sanitizers and importance of social distancing in order to win this battle. The work of those organization and their members is also quite commendable who are preparing and distributing free food packets along with water bottles and other edibles like biscuits and even distributing footwear to the people who have set out from the larger towns for their native village on foot. The workers of these organization are also doing equally noble job by putting themselves at the risk of being infected.

            Then there are people who are helping people to stay indoors in their houses by continuing the chain of supply of milk, vegetables and fruits and other essential items at the door steps of the people as they are also putting their lives at risk of getting infected. Then the hawkers who brings the news from the state, country and the world to the door steps of the people in the form of newspapers are also serving the humanity in their own way as right information is necessary to fight this hidden and invisible foe of humanity. Again a grand salute to these Corona Warriors, especially doctors whose sacrifice and devotion is simple indescribable in words as they have not cared even for their lives in service of humanity that is supreme sacrifice.    

Implications of Lockdown for Diverse People Author : Dr. K.S Kang

Implications of Lockdown for Diverse People

                                                                                                           Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

            Meaning of Lockdown had different connotations for different group of people. For the rich and the middle class lockdown had merely been a change of routine. They can not go out as frequently as they like but as they have less worries about their meals and livelihood so they are utilizing the loads of free time that they have in pursuing their hobbies like music, dancing , reading, writing, gardening and the like. As they do not have any immediate risk so they are just staying indoors and have little problem in following the directions of the administration like wearing masks, washing hands, sanitizing things, social distancing and of course staying at home. They are devoting their time to family members and neighbors as they have come to realize their significance in the times of crisis. Roof tops have been rediscovered as earlier roof tops were visited infrequently and that too briefly to check the overhead water tanks. But now the roofs have shown the signs of people walking on their roofs at least in the morning and in the evening and having informal chat with their immediate neighbors. Indoor activities have been revived including a number of indoor games have come out of closets that were gathering dust from atleast a couple of years like Carrom, Ludo, Playing Cards, Chinese Checkers, Chess and the like.

            But for the common and poor people lockdown has again brought out this dark truth that nobody stands for the poor and the resourceless. Even law, and the administration turns against them even in a democratic society. They are not even allowed to choose their option of death, leave aside living. When country needed them for industrial development and prosperity these poor labour were employed and exploited also to some extent and when everything has been closed down due to lockdown they have been deserted by the society and country and left to live or dies on their resources  When employer has fired them they have no food or money left to give their rent to the landlords they are left with no other option but to start for their villages in the hope that the earth that had given them birth would give them shelter also in this crisis. But buses and trains have been stopped in the name of lockdown and even if Labour Special trains had started but it was too little and too late as very few of them could take its benefit. Most of them were left to walk on the road all the way to their village or use their own resources like cycles, small vehicles like tempos and autos and in trucks, tankers and even mixers and for that too they had to pay the price to the owner. But establishment wherever it could disrupted the journey of the native to his village. These suffering people having bare minimum necessities in this harsh summer weather without any proper shoes and conveyance they are trying to reach their haven of native village that has reared them since their birth. These struggling men, women and children struggling in harsh weather to get to their native places were none other than the citizens of this Great Nation that wants to become World Guru.      .  

A Few Frames During Pandemic Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

A Few Frames during the Pandemic

                                                                                                    Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

            Recent COVID-19 pandemic has made man hygiene conscious so much that has led to strange scenes throughout the world. People have been using masks, sanitizers and adopting social distancing so as to avoid infection. It is a common belief that this virus infects the surfaces also like table laptop, key boards, car handles and the like that has led people to adopt strange methods to avoid the infection. I know one such person who uses tongs to pick up newspaper in the morning to avoid direct contact with the gate that may be touched by the hawker. Not only this he even disinfects the paper in direct sunlight for half an hour before allowing the family members to read it. Another person has even shown the ingenuity of putting the lock on the front door of his house so as to avoid any contact with the people, including the neighbors.

          It is difficult to restrain people indoors for a long time. Hence some countries are easing restriction so that people can enjoy outing with their friends in their favourite restaurants. But precaution is still necessary as prevention is always better than cure. So besides stressing sanitizing and wearing masks one restaurant in Europe has made a long round table so as to maintain social distancing. Another eatery has designed huts with transparent covers that is meant for two people only as it has only two chairs and a table. Similarly waiters with masks and even transparent visors take orders from customers by putting menu on a wooden plank and placing it on the table. After taking orders by listening carefully to the customers orders through the transparent veil as waiters can not enter the hut, the dishes are also served by keeping plates on the wooden plank and put it on the table by the waiter without removing the cover and entering the hut.

          Not only eateries and hotels even legal procedures have been adopted to suit the changing circumstances. People are signing the wills closed behind the cars of course after disinfecting the papers that have come from attorney’s office. Lawyers have even made booths for the customers in which they can go as they go to vote duringthe elections and sign legal papers after sanisitizing themselves and their pen and of course the papers they have to sign. They leave the papers in the paper which are gathered carefully later on. So during this crisis equipment like masks, sanitizers, tongs, locks, wooden planks and booths have nearly become a necessity .     

I'm Corona Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

I’m Corona

                                                                                                           Author :Dr. K.S. Kang

Though I do not know my real name but since human race has given a name Corona to an invisible, almost weightless creature like me so let it be so. While human beings are busy in debating my origin whether I have come from wet market of Wuhan or from its lab I am feeding happily on human beings. I have tried to burn the candle of human race from both the ends by making primarily the old people and young infants as my victims. Though WHO is hesitating in terming me as Pandemic but there is hardly any corner of the world that I have not invaded. I have succeeded in invading some of the most safe and secure places in the world like White Hall, where a powerful person like Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of England could not escape my might. I have even invaded the iron curtains of Kremlin by infecting Putin also. Even White House is also not beyond me and even Queen of  England Elizabeth II had fled to Windsor Castle in hope of escaping from me. Such is my might which is an invisible, almost weightless, unicellular organism known to the world as COVID-19 virus.

            It is not that human beings have not done anything to protect themselves from me. They have come to know that I can not survive in air for a long time and I need a human body to survive quickly other I get starved of breath and air. I transfer from one human body to another with the nasal droplets that come out of a body while coughing or sneezing. And I can infect a person if he touches a surface that had already been visited by me. So human have come up with three weapons of mask, sanitisers and social distancing though these can protect him from me for some time only. I along with my thousands brothers are taking advantage of the weakness of mankind who can not contain themselves inside their houses during lock down for a long time. Though human race has taken steps but still these steps are proving to be quite ineffective still as the real threat can only be given to me by discovering a vaccine that can build resistance against my assault or some medicine or some medical process like Plasma therapy that can build immunity against me in the people. Human beings have given me the status of World Wide Health Emergency because the rich and powerful people are as much prone to become my victim as the poor and the resourceless one. Till now I am infecting people without making any distinction but I am certain that day some cure is found that will be accessible to rich and resourceful section of society I would lose the status of Pandemic as there is hardly anybody in the world who shows concern on the sufferings of the poor and the simple. Till then I am basking in the glory of being a world menace.

            As there is purpose of nature behind every creation, so I believe that nature has created me with the main aim of punishing the human race for getting greedy, over populated and congested that has given rise to pollution, exploitation and coming of slums in the cities that are nothing but living hell. Due to necessity of lockdown people are now realizing the significance of neighbours and their family members and due to closure of factories and decline in traffic the air is getting cleaner, water is more pure and surroundings greener and calmer as a result of which birds and beasts are returning back to give company to suffering humanity.    

Opportunities, Not Challenges Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

Opportunities, Not Challenges

                                                                                                         Author: Dr. K.S.Kang

It is well said that misfortunes never come alone. So had been the year 2020 that had wrecked a number of misfortunes and sufferings on humanity one after another. When humanity already thinking of encountering the worst crisis on humanity there came hailstorm, and then the locusts spoiling the crops of worth of crores through out the country. Due to Corona crisis lockdown has nearly become a necessity putting economic strain on the society in the form of closure of factories, industry, transport and schools and job loss and spurt in unemployment resulting out of it. On the top of it came the great exodus of labour in India from cities to go to their native villages as they hope to get better life and security in their home village.

Amidst the gloom of crisis and chaos nearly leading to anarchy the basic trait of human race to turn challenges into opportunites had been a welcome and refreshing trend. A number of social organizations have grabbed these challenges by providing food and other essential items like footwear to the people with the aim of putting balm on the already suffering humanity. In the age of social distancing it is nearly impossible to prevent people from collecting at one place during the festivals. One such festival that was coming was Id ul Fitr, which is celebrated world wide by the muslims throughout the world at the end of the holy month of Ramzan. At the same social distancing had also become a necessity so as to contain the infection of Corona.

In such a scenario two incidents have come like a fresh air showing that after all humanity is one. In Punjab there are muslims only in the town of Malerkotla. Sikhs of the town have shown a noble gesture by throwing open the Gurudwara to their muslim brothers for praying during morning and evening in the month of Ramadan so as to avoid over crowding of muslims in one mosque . A similar anecdote has been reported from Germany where Christians have opened church for the muslims so that they pray following the rules of social distancing. These two incidents show that “ all religions are diverse paths that lead to the same destination.

Long live tolerance. Long live humanity.

Only this slogan can save humanity not only from the current crisis but from any crisis that may befall humanity in future.    

                                                          

Strange Summers Author: Dr. K.S.Kang

Strange Summers

Author: Dr. K.S Kang

In Indian climate normally the summer season-being the worst part of the year- is usually associated with separation and pain. Earlier when the new year dawned no body had thought even in their remotest dream that after a few months the whole world would come to stand and still due to an invisible, weightless, hidden lethal foe. Sukh Lal worked in a corporate firm as an accountant. He had joined this firm after clearing the final exams of Chartered Accountant. Though his place of work was far from his home town but he had decided to go for it keeping in mind the bright prospects, promotions in future and salary and perks which his mofussil home town could not have given him at any cost. After he put an year of service in this firm Sukh Lal’s parents searched a suitable girl for him as his life partner, though they had started the search the day he had joined this job. His wedding and engagement was finalized within a week of his approval of the girl. Before his wedding Sukh Lal had a glimpse of his life partner twice once when he approved the girl and then at the engagement just a couple of days before wedding in the month of February 2020 when he exchanged ring with her. His boss had approved just a week’s leave for this work out of which two days were spent in traveling though he went back by air and a couple of days were lost in wedding ceremonies and one day he had to take his newly wed wife to her town for Pagphera.

So the newly wed couple decided that bride would remain with her parents-in-law, as in rich Indian tradition and heritage it is almost mandatory for the new bride to remain with parents-in-law so as to serve them. So Sukh Lal went back to his pace alone and it was decided that she would join him a month later But just a week after their wedding exploded the bomb of Corona infecting and taking lives of number of people world wide. Duet to it curfew and lockdown became a necessity so as to contain the spread of this lethal malady that had no remedy so far. Government even cancelled all flights, trains and buses and everything came to stand and still. The only change in Sukhpal’s life that came after wedding was that now he spent most of his time indoors and working from home for his office. He even after marriage was still seen handling milk and cooking meals in the kitchen in the morning and evening. Though he was eager for her company but he could not take risk of making a journey to his home town and then bringing her here. In normal times he would have asked his parents to send her to him. He would have taken this risk of making a journey gladly if the risk had been confined to him alone. But he could not have afforded to bring infection to his near and dear ones in the journey.

In the name of honeymoon he had just spent two nights and a day with his bride but then thanks to technology as he could see her through video calls. But still even this technology could not give respite for long. It forced him to think that though summers are unpleasant and unbearable due to scorching heat of the sun but this summers due to lockdown resulting from COVID-19 had made this summer more unbearable and torturous for the new wed couples. Though still there was uncertainty even after a month of lockdown when things would get normal but still Sukhpal hoped that soon life would return to rails and everything would become normal including his wedded life and he would be united never to be separated again from his wife. 

    

Positive Take Away from COVID-19 Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

II

Positive Take Aways from Covid-19   

                                                                                                               Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

Though this virus has killed more than three lac people world wide and many Corona warriors have laid down their lives in service of humanity due to it like doctors, nurses, health workers, policeman, members of social organization and the like. No words can express our deep gratitude towards these people who have made supreme sacrifice in the war against this deadly virus. Many people had to face economic hardships due to lockdown that had nearly become a necessity to fight this invisible foe of humanity. Due to lockdown traffic is off road, streets are empty, parks and other public places like parks, malls and cinemas that used to bustle with crowd have been closed. It has led to a number of positive effects on nature.

            First of all due to lockdown a drastic decline in the air pollution level due to carbon emission of the vehicles and factories has been observed. That has made our environment a lot cleaner- air is purer and water cleaner. After a month of lockdown it is possible to view Himalyas clearly from Saharnapur and Jalandhar. Waters of the rivers and streams has become so crystal clear that even fishes, rocks and aquatic vegetation at the bed of the river is easily visible from its banks. Even in Delhi India Gate is easily visible from Rashtrapati Bhawan even at what used to be peak hours of traffic. But the real challenge before humanity is Can we preserve the purity of the environment even after the restrictions of lockdown are eased that appear quite imminent in the near future. If we want to continue to inhale clean fresh air human society will have to take some strong steps like using bicycles and electric vehicles as far as possible rather than fossil fuel vehicles. Not only there is a need to take these drastic steps but there is an equal urgency to implement these steps with the same strictness that is followed during a curfew or a lockdown. Mankind will have to learn to avoid unnecessary travels and crowding the place and where the journey is a must then public transport should be used as far as possible. Government should also take initiative in encouraging the use of vehicles with less polluting fuels like electric vehicles, or vehicles run by CNG, etc. Cleaner environment has led to the return of birds and beasts to the urban areas also after a long time as the surrounding have become greener.

            At the social level compulsion of remaining indoors due to lockdown has resulted in rediscovery of social relations like that of family and neighbours. Most of the people can be seen spending quality time with their family members as a result of which understanding between the members of family has increased. Some people are devoting their free time in pursuing their hobbies like gardening, carpentry, painting, music, dancing, reading and writing. Lockdown has reasserted the significance of neighbours who can be seen strolling on the roof of their houses in the evening and morning. It is essential to set up rapport with them as they are the people who will help you in  difficult times as it may take some time before your children, friends and relatives living at a distance are able to reach you, particularly in the times of Lockdown. Technology has reduced distances atleast virtually as broadband, internet, skype, google, or optical fiber connection that enables you to contact them at will through video calls. Now it is up to human society whether it wants to remain in the paradise of cleaner surroundings and purer environment or like another Satan to live in hell of dirt, pollution and smoke.      

Pandemic Write Ups Home Return Author: Dr. K.S .Kang

Pandemic Write Ups

I

-Home Return-

                                                                             Author: Dr.K.S.Kang

Suddenly the news in the town spread like a wild fire after a person who had come from abroad had tested positive. Curfew was enforced at once in the locality where the infected person lived and authorities clamped strict lockdown in the area declaring it to be red zone. Factories. Schools, colleges and offices and shops in the market were ordered to be closed at once with the exception of few shops selling essential items like medicines, groceries and milk. These shops were also allowed to open only for a couple of hours in the morning and evening. Such was the might of invisible, almost weightless virus named Corona that life in the town had come to stand and still. With that came one of the most severe crisis in the life of  Bholu who worked in the bicycle factory of the town. Owner of the factory showed his inability to continue their job and asked them to go away at once. This crisis was not only for Bholu but for hundreds of people like Bholu who had come from the distant parts of the country like Assam, Bihar, Orissa and Bengal to come in the number of industries in this part of the country that was more industrialized than the rest of the country. Now they were free to die if not from corona then from starvation. Perhaps in choosing the way to die also they were not free. Whatever money and food was left in the house was spent before the first week of the lockdown ended.

Different people thought of diverse ways to confront this crisis but almost every person like Bholu made up his mind to return to his village as he felt that it is better to die among his fellow villagers than among the strange people in this strange place. Some of them gathered at Bus Stations and Railway Stations to get some conveyance for their village but they only succeeded in getting lathis of the Police who were ordered by the administration to disperse the crowd so as to avoid the possible spread of Pandemic. As Bholu was educated so he knew well that despite the social, religious and linguistic divisions the humanity was broadly divided into three- rich, not so rich or middle class and poor and destitute people like Bholu. Each class had adopted different methods of facing lockdown. Rich and middle classes, as they had no worry of income and food, adopted every instruction of government like staying indoors, wearing masks, using sanitisers, social distancing and utilizing their time by pursuing their hobbies and devoting time to their families, friends, relatives and even neighbors. But people like Bholu who were entirely dependent upon their daily earnings had no option left either to die in this town or to reach their village or to die of some calamity on the way to their village. Bholu and his family decided to make an attempt to reach their village but government had stopped buses and trains. So Bholu and his family, like many others decided to rely on their own resources and means and started their journey towards their destination by foot in the hope of finding some means to continue their journey. Some people were moving on their bicycles, rickshaws- particularly a girl who was dragging an old man on the bicycle whose legs were injured in an accident as he was an auto driver. After covering a few kilometers on highway Bholu’s younger daughter got hungry, after walking for a few more kilometers they saw a social organization distributing food packets and water bottles. Though most of the people could not get food packet in the name of social distancing and flouting rules of lockdown but some how Bholu managed to get food packets and water bottle. There were many people like Bholu who were walking on the highway with their belongings with single undivided aim of reaching their village come what may. Some of them were trying to contact truck drivers who gave them lifts to their villages but of course for a price. Seeing the tiredness of his children he also tried to contact a tanker driver but the price that he asked was too much for Bholu to afford as moneywas the only thing that Bholu did not have to spare. So they decided to continue walking on the highway. By evening Bholu and his family were tired and hungry like a stray dog. Bholu met a tempo driver who knew him personally but he was unable to help him, though he wanted to as his tempo was already having eighteen people comprising of men, women and children belonging to same family. So they continued walking for another kilometer when they stopped a road side hotel. As it was getting darker and Bholu did not consider it wise and safe to continue the journey with the family during the night though it was pleasant during the night on the highway. Hotel owner agreed to give them food and shelter for the night but in return he wanted Bholu and his wife to clean the utensils and the hotel campus as his workers have run away to their near by villages and have not returned since yesterday. So they spent the first night on the highway under the cover of moonlight and shining stars as the weather was quite pleasant and as they were tired so after having their fill they had a good and sound sleep. They resumed their journey early in the morning next day as they hoped to cover some distance before the merciless scorching heat of the sun gets unbearable. After walking for a couple of kilometers Bholu’s eyes hit a seemingly familiar sight. On coming closer he found that it was upturned tempo whose owner could not take Bholu and his family on his tempo as it was already over loaded. Some speeding car had hit it from the back resulting in the death of the driver sending him to his ultimate destination within no time. His wife was wailing and an ambulance was taking injured people to the hospital and some workers of social organization was handing over biscuits and water bottles to them. Good sense prevailed over Bholu he also grabbed a packet of biscuit and bottle of water from them. That day Bholu saw another tragic sight of a overturned truck that had killed atleast a dozen people like Bholu who hoped to reach their village safely and earlier and so paid some money, that perhaps they got from their uncles in the villages, to the driver and in this attempt reached their final Home instead.

In afternoon while taking biscuits that were given by the social organizations Bholu heard that police authorities were driving people like Bholu from the highway and forcing them to return to their respective town. Now Bholu did not want to return back to town that was nothing less than a hell. He met another man with his family named Jaita, who like Bholu was coming from another big town of the contry and heading towards his village. Both Bholu and Jaita decided to leave highway and walk on the nearby railway as they hoped that it was safer and it would also take them to their destination. In the evening they came to a pond where railway line merged into another branch line. Here Bholu and Jaita decided to call it a day and rest for the night. As there were no social organizations on the railway lines so they had depend on the whatever food packets and biscuits were left. Although they had luxury to drink as much water as they liked from the pond. Jaita’s family decided to sleep on the railway line making the railway tracks as their pillow as they knew that government had stopped all the trains, while Bholu’s family decided to move near the pond. At midnight there was sudden bright light and noise and cries of Jaita, his wife and two young boys who were mercilessly cut down by a cargo train that only God knows where it came from. In the morning Bholu was feeling depressed at the sudden and tragic loss of his fellow passengers. However they continued walking on the tracks. At a place where Bholu stopped to have a cup of tea he heard another rumor that some people like Bholu who had succeeded in reaching their villages were driven away, beaten up and one even was killed. Bholu could not imagine even in his dreams that this virus has made people so much afraid and insensitive that even his own friends and relatives with whom he had spent his entire childhood will kill him. Sometimes he even questioned his decision of leaving the town and move towards his village. Will it be so near yet so far for him and his family too. There was an air of uncertainty as he did not know whether he and his family would succeed in reaching their village or not, will they die on the way or even by his own fellow villagers yet inspired by the couple who had undertaken the journey of 1100 kms on foot and by the girl who had ferried across her father successfully on bicycle by covering the journey of 400 kms, he took another step towards his desitnation.                     

The Patriarch Part-III

-Part-III-

We shifted to our new house in the month of September 1984 and I remember that my sister and brother-in-law had come to help us in shifting the house. They were planning to put curtains of their choice in the rooms of the newly constructed house. Masons were still in the housing giving finishing touches to their work. The first festival that was celebrated in this new house was Diwali of 1984. There were a very few people living in the colony at that time but most of us were known as they were government servants. After retirement my father continued his routine of going on morning walk with Mr. Malhotra and in the evening he used to go for a walk with my mother. My father had cherished a dream of opening a residential coaching centre to coach young boys for entrance test to Sainik School. For that he had constructed a hall that can act as classrooms during the day and hostel during the night. He had also constructed a pair of washrooms towards the South western point house that could serve as washrooms for servants and inmates. Though my father cold not get any boarders but my father coached a few local boys for entry to Sainik School but only a few could succeed due to tough competition. However with time he became quite popular as English teacher though he had taught Science and Maths all through out his life due to his pleasing and congenial nature and quite a strong sense of humour. He used to teach English and Maths and he helped a number of young boys and girls in clearing their exams. As Sainik School was a semi-government body  so he was not getting pension so he started taking tuitions that passed his time as well as it helped him to earn his livelihood. The amount that he had received as Provident Fund from the school had been put in MIS of Post office so he used to go to post in the first week of every month to collect the amount of interest that he termed as his pension. Meanwhile I completed my post graduation in 1985 and I got a teaching job as temporary teacher at Government College Karauli which was at that time in the district of Sawai Madhopur. Before I got the job another event that came in the life of my parents was the birth of my elder niece who was named Nidhi at Bharatpur. I remember that I went to see her when she was a few days old along with my mother to Bharatpur. So I went to work at Karauli in November 1985 leaving my parents alone. Both my parents came to see off at the railway station as I was to board a train named Pink City Express that ran between Udaipur and Delhi from Chittorgarh railway station. I was to break my journey at Jaipur where I was to stay with my sister for the night and then next day I was to proceed with my brother-in-law Harendra to my place of posting by bus from Jaipur.

            After my joining the job at Karauli the next mission before my parents was to search a suitable bride for me. My sister’s father –in-law was quite enthusiastic about it and he even came along with his friends from Bharatpur to see me at Karauli.Another gentleman came to meet me at Government College Karauli with the letter of introduction from Satya Dev ji Cheema. I along my brother-in-law even went to see the girl at Bharatpur. I had gone to Jaipur for some work and I was summoned to reach Bharatpur immediately. So I and my brother-in-law got the jeep in the midnight that was carrying newspapers and we reached Bharatpur in the early hours of morning. However, there things could not mature perhaps due to height as the girl was a basketball player so she was quite tall. Meanwhile as my father was searching his papers he got the address of a businessman of Udaipur named S. Zora Singh Dhillion owner of Green Roadways at Udaipur. This gentleman had come to Sainik School a few years back for the admission of his son. He was introduced to my father by headmaster of the school Maj. Randhir Singh, who was also a sikh. However though his son could not get admission to school but he gave his address to my father. My father immediately wrote to him requesting him to sort out the issue of my marriage. The moment he received his letter he gave it to his neighbour S. Karam Singh Deol asking him to take the letter to Bhilwara as the daughter of an Engineer working in irrigation department was of marriageable age. And very next day my father-in-law S. Surjeet Singh along with Karam Singh Deol came to Chittorgah.. But they could meet only my parents as I was away working at Karauli. As colleges closed for summer vacations in 1987 in the month of May S. Surjeet Singh again came to meet me and my parents. This time Surjeet Singh ji brought his brother-in-law S. Hardayal Singh, who was a teacher in Education Department of Government of Punjab. He belonged to Nathuwala Jadid village, which was neighbouring village to Parao Mehna, the village to which my mother belonged to and which was my birth place. My sister and brother –in-law were to visit us in the month of June to celebrate the birthday of me and my sister that happened to be on 6^th June. So the day of 7^th June was selected when we all five of us, including my niece, would go to Bhilwara to finally settle down the matter. Frankly speaking I was not prepared for the marriage as I had only a temporary job that meant that there was no guarantee that I would be in job next year too. I had told these things to my father-in-law also hoping that as he was a government servant he would understand the things but he and his other family members were totally unaffected by it. Secondly I had applied for State Administrative Services whose exams were to be held in the month of December that year so I atleast wanted to postpone the wedding beyond the month of December so that I can give the exam peacefully. Even my parents had assured that they were just fixing the marriage and the the date of wedding would be fixed later on. As destiny would have it on that fateful day my father perhaps forgot everything and readily agreed to the marriage in the month of October 1987. After we met the girl and approving her the wedding rings were exchanged and it was decided that we would be engaged on 17^th October when S. Surjeet Singh along with his relatives would come to Chittorgarh and the next day we will take the barat to Bhilwara to solemnize the marriage ceremony. S.Surjeet Singh belonging to the village of Sujapur in Tehsil jagaraon of Ludhiana district joined as Engineer in Irrigation Department of Government of Rajasthan in Udaipur division. After working on the Mahi-Bajajsagar project in Banswara which was a joint enterprise of Government of Rajasthan and Government of Gujarat he came to Bhilwara and build a house in B sector of Shastri Nagar in Bhilwara. He had three real brothers and a cousin. His father S. Joginder Singh had two brothers S. Ralla Singh and S.Gobind Singh. S. Joginder Singh was a retired Patwari in Revenue Department of Revenue, Government of Punjab while S.Ralla Singh, who had no child, had served from some time in the army and then he worked as a security guard of a bank while S.Gobind Singh also retired as some minor revenue official from Government of Punjab. S. Joginder Singh had four sons. The eldest one S.Pritam Singh joined ministerial service in Government of Punjab and retired as Nazir or Office Supt. The next one S. Ajit Singh devoted his life in looking after farms and doing agriculture. The next one S. Baldev Singh served in Indian Air Force and retired as Junior Warrant Officer, equivalent to JCO in army and S.Surjeet Singh came to serve in Irrigation Department of Government of Rajasthan. S.Gobind Singh had one son S. Tajinder Singh who opened a small workshop in a nearby town of Raikot. Today when I consider the folly of my father who had nearly ruined my career it occurs to me that if he had not agreed for the wedding perhaps I would not have married the whole of my life as one girl had already turned me down and I would have been too downcast to marry someone. So one of the important mission of my parent’s life was accomplished when I was married with this girl named Baljeet aka Satti, who was PGDCA in Computer Application at a simple ceremony at their residence in Bhilwara. The greatest merit of my spouse was that she was PGDCA from a reputed institution of Chandigarh. But she made a fatal mistake of deciding not to work for atleast an year as she was fed up off studies and wanted to take some rest otherwise almost all of her class fellows who had completed their studies from that institute have got jobs in prestigious companies like Microsoft, APPLE, and Infosys in U.S.A. So my marriage to my spouse was just a coincidence.

            My fears for stability in government job turned true as first of all I lost my job just one week after my marriage as my name did not appear in the first merit list. However before this news could get out my name appeared in the second list and I got the job at the same place. But at the end of the session I relost my job as government intended to change the policy so I took up the part time job of teacher in Government Polytechnic College Chittorgarh that was opened the same year and I used to go for a couple of hours to a private school of the town Christian Mission School that now has been closed as its owner has passed away. But somebody got respite from judiciary and I got back my job in the month of December 1988 at the same place from where I had left and I remember that I joined there on 9^th December 1988. My wife was pregnant and my sister had given birth to my younger niece whom we had named Anshu. Colleges were to close for Winter vacation and I came back to Chittorgarh on 24^th December 1988 as it was Sunday and vacations were from 25-12-1988 to1-1-1989.  When I reached Chittorgarh my parents were in state of tension and agitation as their grandchild was expected to arrive any moment. At that time we did not even have telephone connection. However, somebody informed us that my wife has been taken to hospital. As soon as we heard it I, my mother and my father started at once for Bhilwara like three Magis by Bus and reached Bhilwara in a couple of hours. I directly went to hospital from point where we left the bus. My mother-in-law informed me that my wife has been taken into the isolation room but she took me along with her despite the protests from hospital staff to meet my wife. I saw that though she was in pain but she did not show it as much as other women were squeaking and shouting. From there I came to the house of my in-laws and after a couple of hours I got the news that my elder son had come into the world on the evening of December 25,1988 and I decided to name this child Ishu after Jesus Christ who was also born on the same day. So he was named as Ishupal Singh Kang. My wife had two brothers and both of them were in Transport Business and were running a firm named Dashmesh Transport. Her elder brother S. Sukhpal Singh had a son and a daughter named Manjeet Kaur and son Harpreet Singh. The younger brother had one child at that time who waas barelyone year old at the time of wedding. His name is Prithipal Singh.Whenever I visited Bhilwara these children waited eagerly for me as I always took some sweet or candy or biscuit for them that made me popular atleast among the children.

            When my son completed his first year of life my parents decided to celebrate it by holding his ceremony for his religious investiture and throwing a dinner party in the evening. An Akhand path of Guru Granth Sahib ji was arranged in the house on 23-12-1989 and it was completed with solemn ceremony in the morning of 25-12-1989 followed by dinner party in the evening. As it was just one year after wedding so the guest list was already there and other arrangements were made and the birthday cake was cut and dinner was cooked by Halwai and the party was held in the Shamiana put up by the leading tent house of the town.

            My father was very fastidious in his routine. He used to get up early in the morning and go for a walk alone regularly. One day it was time of winters and when he returned he complained of chest pain. During the walk he experienced pain and instead of resting for a few minutes he taking it to be something serious rushed back to the house that enhanced the pain. However, he was admitted to Jainani Hospital where Dr. Jainani had also treated him earlier for his liver problem that led to continuous hiccups in 1984. When Dr. Jainani had examined him he asked him to proceed towards the theatre and he provided a wheel chair of the hospital too. But that chair was stuck up and did not move so my father told me not to worry as he can walk down that distance easily but by the time he reached theatre Doctor came rushing at once and seeing his pale face scolded me for making him walk that distance in that condition when his blood pressure was dropping fast. However he controlled the situation efficiently by giving some injections in the drip that was given to him immediately. Doctor diagnosed the malady to be of Engina pains though the pain could be in chest due to indigestion and weak liver problem also. It could not become clear whether that pain was due to the heart or weak liver leading to indigestion. Father had a weak liver as he had developed Cholera during his childhood and my mother was not in favour of the test that is known as Angiography seeing to his advancing age. At that time my elder son was only a few months old and we used to take him to the hospital in the evening so that his grandfather can play with him. It used to be a good time as my father was getting fed up of medicines, nurses and doctor. My mother used to remain with him continuously day and night and I used to be link between the house and the hospital and my father-in-law also came to see him. So after saying in the hospital for about ten days he came back to the house but from that date till his death he was on complete medication as doctor had advised to an anti cloggant like Disprin, a dilator like Isordil or Sorbitrate and a tablet of B-Complex for the vitality and strength of the body.

            My father after getting cured was again engaged in taking tuition classes. One day a retired District Education Officer Mr. O.L Suwalka, who had recently taken over charge of a private English medium school Central Academy came to meet him. He requested my father to take up teaching job as there was a dearth of teachers who can teach subjects through English medium. But he refused saying that as he was old so he cannot teach now in the school. Mr. Suwalka prevailed over my father by saying that here you would be able to benefit half a dozen students only while at the school nearly 30 students will be able to take his benefit. Convinced with this argument my father agreed to teach Maths to Class IX and X and join the school as part-time teacher and agreed to spend a couple of hours at the school. This also suited school authorities and they agreed to his proposal. He also requested him to place his four classes in continuation so that he can be free by the recess and can return home after taking tea with his friends and colleagues. Joining the school regularized his life as he used to teach at home in the morning and then he used to go to school at 12 o’clock a.m and the return from there by 2.30 p.m and after taking lunch and meals he again used to take one class in the evening. Besides this he used to listen to the news on TV regularly and he was also interested in watching debates and discussions on TV particularly DD Lok Sabha and DD Rajya Sabha particularly during the zero hour discussion.

            Meanwhile jus by default I was transferred from Karauli to Bharatpur though I had neither tried it nor applied for it. At Bharatpur I took a two room kitchen of my brother-in-law’s elder brother Rajesh Cheema’s house on rent. He was also an Engineer in Irrigation Department of Government of Rajasthan. It was just a return to another family as Cheemas lived in joint family at one place where atleast two dozen people lived in peace and harmony. There was no shortage of play mates for my son. Meanwhile my wife again got pregnant and this time my parents and my mother-in-law came to Bharatpur to look after my wife as it was decided that child be born at Bharatpur as there was my sister’s mother-in-law also to look after her. My father used to take my son for evening walks to some surrounding place. When my younger son was born at that time also it was time of evening my father had taken my son for the evening walk and when they returned they got the news of the arrival of my younger son. Mymother,my moter-in-law and my sister’s mother-in law were with my wife in the labour room. Soon my sister’s mother-in-law congratulated me on getting another son. After that my mother came and informed me that the young child had dimples in the cheek as he was born a day before Shivratri so it was decided to name this child Shivpal. When my father returned with my son and came to know that my wife had been taken to hospital they rushed to it as the hospital was just a walking distance from my accommodation. A couple of months ago a son was born to my younger brother-in-law also at Bhilwara and my elder son had seen him. So when my wife returned to the home with that young child Ishu pal was confused that how the child he had seen at Bhilwara had come there and for many days he considered Shivpal to be the same child that he saw at Bhilwara till he saw them both at the same time.

            The birth of my younger son brought me to my home town Chittorgarh even though for a brief period of six months but after that I remained within the periphery of 200 kms of my town at the most. Ultimately after working for two years at Bhilwara and for two sessions at Kekri ultimately I succeeded in coming to Chittorgarh in July 1995. After coming to Chittorgarh I started helping my father in taking him on my scooter to his school and to market and other places like market, Sainik School and to meet his friends and colleagues who have settled after retirement in the different parts of the town. My father helped Central Academy by bringing more teachers who also joined this school after retiring from the Sainik School joined it like English teacher Mr. J.N.Bhargava, Chemistry teacher Mr. H.S. Rathi and Geography teacher Mr. O.S.Saxena. Meanwhile his grandsons had also started their education in St. Pauls School and when my father asked them to shift to his school as he would get discount on their fees they simply refused to do so. Meanwhile my wife, after my kids have started going to school started working as Computer professional. In those days one memorable incident that had etched life long was our visit to south India perhaps in the year 1994 when I was working at Bhilwara. My wife’s maternal uncle was at Hyderabad at that time so we decided to go on pilgrimage to Nanded in Maharashtra which is a sacred place for Sikhs as Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru is believed to have spent the last phase of his life here. In those days there was a direct train from Jaipur to Secunderabad passing through Nanded daily. There was only quota of three berths from Chittorgarh so I got my seat reserved from Bhilwara quota and gave instructions that I will board from Chittorgarh. So all six of us boarded the train at night The Meenaxi Express. And after a journey of 36 hours reached Nanded in the early morning hours. After seeing the historical Gurudwaras at Nanded and around Nanded we went to see River Godavari on whose banks this town is situated. I remember that while coming back from the river bank we saw a rickshaw and I must tell you here that rickshaws of South India are quite special. Their seat is much lower in comparison to the rickshaws of North India. We thought that my parents would be tired so they can go to our accommodation in it. But seeing the rickshaw both of my sons jumped into it and ordered the Rickshawwalah to move. At that time since height of my younger son was good so both of them appeared to be of same height though there was a gap of nearly twenty seven months between them. Many people confused them to be twins. People were so good and honest that Rickshawwalah dropped them at destination we had told him. Next day we went to meet a local gentleman who belonged to Chittorgarh. Actually Mr. Suwalka, Principal Central Academy gave us letter of introduction to us as this gentleman who was a successful businessman was Mr. Suwalka’s class fellow. He had settled at Nanded for more than three decades. He had a sprawling bungalow along with their own guest house. Though they insisted us to stay there but we said that we have to follow the routine of the Gurudwara so we cannot stay there. However we took meals and came back to our accommodation provided to us by the Gurudwara in Maharaja Ranjeet Singh House. Next day we took bus for another place Bidar, that is also known for a historical Gurudwara associated with Guru Nanak Dev ji. This place Bidar is in Karnataka and it nearly took us four and a half hour to reach Bidar. After staying here for two days we took bus to Hyderabad and by the evening we reached the house of my wife’s maternal uncle which located in Housing Board, Vanasthalipuram. Next day my wife’s maternal uncle and his son took us around Hyderabad and Secunderabad and saw its world famous museum Salarjung museum, sprawling zoo of Hyderabad and statue of Buddha in Husseinsagar and of course Char Minar. Our train was on the next day evening so next daya morning I gain went to the city in a local bus and bought a model of Char Minar made of gun metal. Next day our hosts came to see us off at Secunderabad Railway station as we boarded the train back to Chittorgarh. Perhaps this was our first outing and that too religious one as a whole family that all of us enjoyed to the most.

            As our visit to Punjab were almost an annual affair especially after the end of terrorism in Punjab. So we went on a number of such tours accompanied by my parents and our tenants who lived in our house in Moga. His name was also Surjeet Singh. We went along with him to see historical gurudwaras in Punja, like Harmandir sahib Amritsar, Taran taran and at Sultanpur Lodhi. We also went to see India’s international border at Husseiniwala in Firozepur district. We stayed there to watch the Retreat Ceremony when the two flags of the countries are taken down watched by people of both the countries. My mother approached one of the security guards of Pakistan and India and requested them to allow her to put one foot on the foreign soil of Pakistan. From that day till my son went to Italy to study Law, She was the only person in our family to set a foot on foreign soil. I also remember a similar tour that we had taken as a family to Uttarakhand. This tour started from Moga as we had hired a Tata Sumo vehicle and our family friend Surjeet Singh and his family was also with us. After passing through Ludhiana, Ambala and Yamunanagar we reached Hardwara, a holy place for Hindus as River Ganga flows here, in the evening and stayed at Pawan Dham Inn. Next day we went to see The Holy Ganga and to have a dip in it near Har ki Pauri. My mother was very much delighted when both of her grandsons helped her to take a dip in The Holy Ganga River. After that we went to see Mansa Devi temple which was situated on the hill. Though it was just like another temple but the main attraction was that the only was to go to that place was by a rope trolley which was a novel mode of transport for us. We all four of us- I, my wife and my two sons took one trolley and felt the thrill as it soared high into the sky towards the hill top where the temple was situated. Perhaps it was for the first time that I have traveled by this mode and perhaps it was the first time my wife and kids got off the ground for the first time in their life. In the evening we watched the world famous Aarti of River Ganga and nest day we went to Rishikesh where Ganga was much cleaner than at Hardwara. After seeing various temples on the way we came back to Pawan Dham in the evening. Next day we went to Dehradun and stayed at Agarwala Dharamshala near Railway Station. My father was very enthusiastic about Dehradun as my parents have spent some of the best time of their lives there when my father worked as Physics Demonstrator in Indian Military Academy. He often fondly remembered some of the icons of Dehradun like Clock Tower, Prem Nagar, Clementown, Forest Research Institute, Rashtriya Indian Military College and famous Doon School. In the evening while roaming in the campus of IMA we happened to meet one of my father’s student who was working as an office there. Incidentally his neighbour also turned out to be his student his name being Maj. Lakshman Singh. He promised us to take us around the IMA campus and its grand museum housed in Chetwode Building. So we came back after having a cup of tea at the residence of my father’s student. Next day as we reached the main gate of IMA Major Lakshman Singh was waiting for us. He took us to the campus of IMA and its legendary museum where we saw the life size portraits of some of the finest warriors of modern India like Field Marshal Carriappa, Field Marshal Manekshaw, Lt. Gen Gorbinder Singh and the like. We also saw the pistol of Lt. Gen Niazi, Commander-in Chief Eastern Command Pakistan now Bangladesh when he surrendered before Indian commander Lt. Gen J.S Arora.  After seeing the museum we bid farewell to Maj. Lakshman Singh and came back to our staying place. Next day we went to see the adjoining hill station Mussorie which was often visited by my parents during the winters as snow used to fall here. At Mussorie we could not see much as the local taxi union did not allow other taxis to enter the town beyond a point. However, we still went on foot for a couple of kilometers to see Lal Tiba (Red Dune) from where through the binocular we saw the China Boarder. While coming back we also saw the residence of famous writer          

. Next day we went to Prem nagar to see the house in which my parents have spent some of the best time of his life. My father was overjoyed to meet his neighbour who had been nicknamed as Gaddi as he was born in a Railway train compartment while their family was migrating from Pakistan after the partition in 1947. We had a cup of tea with Gaddi and his family and then turned back to Punjab and our ultimate destination of Rajasthan.

            As the twentieth century was coming to close we were a closely knit social unit known as family. We used to attend the wedding parties, picnic parties together. Sometimes I even had to do two trips as in those days I had only one scooter and my wife had a Luna. Another favourite past time of my father once a year was the annual get together of Alumni Union of Sainik School Chittorgarh. He used to take great pride in attending these functions and meeting his students. Later on when he was unable to move out of the house his students used to come at his residence and have a cup of tea with our family.

             I clearly recollect when the first day of new twenty first century and the new millennium was dawning my son was watching World Cup Football matches. Exactly when the clock struck twelve he brought his grandfather in White T-Shirt and white shorts with a football in his hand and he even kicked the ball amidst the cheers of the family members. In the year 2004 I received a large amount in the form of my fixation arrears and with some monetary help from my father I bought a Zen model car of Maruti-Suzuki company. Not only I but my wife also learnt the driving and now it became easier for our family to move out together as we had a car. So mostly we used to attend weddings and other functions together. Sometimes I even used to take my parents in concerts of Indian classical music and dance whenever they were held at Shanakr Menon Auditorium of Sainik School Chittorgarh. This auditorium was named on my father’s suggestion when the condolence meeting at the death of the founder Principal of Sainik School Chittorgarh Lt.Col, later Brig (Retd.) K.S. Menon was in progress.

            Once we even took a driver with the help of my brother-in-law at Bhilwara and went to Punjab in our car. That was perhaps the longest distance covered by it of nearly 2000 kms at one go. He was very happy to see his village, his friends and relatives though most of his fiends were either incapacitated due to old age or had passed away. Once again we went to Punjab by car but this time we hired both a car as well as driver again due to courtesy of my younger brother-in –law at Bhilwara. By now my elder son had started graduation in Law from Rajiv Gandhi National Law University Patiala. So this time we stayed at the house of a relative and went to meet Ishupal and his friends at the hostel of the university. Ishupal’s class fellows and friends were very much happy to meet my father as majority of them were from Rajasthan. This proved to be his last visit to Punjab but this time he could not visit his village the place where he had spent his childhood and early education. During this trip we stayed at my in-law’s residence situated at village Sujapur in Jagaraon Tehsil of Ludhiana district in Punjab. My father was so much tired after such a long journey that he had no wish and energy left to visit his village. So we returned back from this place. By this time my in-law’s due to huge loss in business had sold their house in Bhilwara and wound up their business and build their residence in their village.

            One day my father was lying on the coat and just by chance when he closed his one eye he could not see anything while he could see everything clearly with his other eye. We consulted a local ophthalmologist but he could not say anything except that something was wrong with retina. So we took him to Goma Bai Hospital Neemuch where after several tests Doctors declared him that the sight of one of the eye has been destroyed to Glucoma that can be defined as stealth of sight. However still he was doing well with the other good eye but unfortunately he started developing cataract in the other eye too. We took him to Jaipur where doctor assured that he would try his best to preserve the sight of his good eye as long as possible and he even promised to remove the cataract also when it matured. Still he was doing well with the sight of one good eye for a number of years but with time his sight was diminishing and he was facing more and more difficulty in seeing things clearly. But he got mental setback when that doctor refused to remove the cataract owing to his cardiac problem and old age and he could not take the risk of operating the eye as if the operation failed he would be totally blind.

            Once he again felt a pain in the chest and it seemed uncontrollable so we took him to the nearest private nursing home of Dr. Khabiya. Though this trouble was due more to indigestion but there was danger or heart collapse always. However he recovered after taking the medication and staying in the nursing home for about ten days and returned to he house a health man. However with time his number of medicines were increasing as besides his heart ailment he was taking medicines for the declining number of malenin pigment in his body and then something for digestion too as he was facing bout of severe constipation and when he took laxative he grew weak due to excessive excretion. He was nearly caught in the vicious circle of constipation and loose motions. Then with age his Pancreas had also enlarged leading to frequent urination and he was taking a pill or two for that too. But still he was keeping well and I used to take him in the car aat regular intervals to see his colleagues and friends. Meanwhile Chickengunia spread like an epidemic though it was not fatal but it had incapacitated many for many months and particularly for old people it could be quite dangerous. My mother became victim to it and she was unable to digest even water. When the things worsened we took her to hospital who admitted her at once. At that time my wife was working as a teacher at Birla Shiksha Kendra. So whole of her time was taken up in looking after my mother day and night. At the hospital one of my friend Dr. Nacchittar Singh Pannu was working there and he told Dr. Vaishanav, who was treating my mother, that be careful doctor you are treating not his mother only but my mother as well. After that hospital staff and doctor started paying more attention and priority to her. After a long patient wait she recovered and she was released from Hospital but with a number of precautions and restrictions as she was also patient of High Blood pressure.

Now children of my sister as well as my wife’s elder brother were growing, they had completed their education and the elder girl Manjeet was of marriageable age. Ultimately her marriage was fixed with Mr. Rajvinder Jagpal son of S. Lakshman Singh Jagpal of village Boarai in Ludhiana District. Mr. Lakshman Singh Jagpal had retired as a teacher from School Education Department, Govt of Rajasthan from Jodhpur Division and then he bought a house at Udaipur and decided to settle there as his younger son was working with a private firm as an Engineer. Marriage was to be held at Ludhiana as it would be convenient for the people of Punjab to come to Ludhiana then at Udaipur or Baroda where also he had a house as his daughter was settled there. Marriage was solemnized in the winters of year 2008 at a marriage palace Ludhiana. My mother wanted very much to attend this wedding but due to my father, as it was nearly impossible for him to travel such a long distance of 1000 kms she was unable to do so. At that time my elder son was studying at Patiala so all of reached Ludhiana from where we were picked up by my brother-in-law and went to Sujapur. Next day we came for engagement ceremony and the wedding ceremony that was to take place at a local gurudwara and then the celebrations were to be held at a resort taken on rent.

So as to facilitate my parents we had employed three servants in the house. One was to clean the utensils, the other was to wash clothes and the third one was to cook food for them. In the year 2010 Jaipur chapter of Alumni Association decided to hold a two day convention at Jaipur and they invited all the retired teachers for it. I was given responsibility to bring all the retired teachers residing in Chittorgarh to Jaipur in a mini bus hired by the students. On reaching Jaipur we were put in a reasonably good hotel and from there we were taken to Cantonment area for the meeting. After the meeting and lunch the main celebration was to be hosted by Lt. Gen (Retd.) Mandatta Singh at his residence Hotel Kalwar Palace. In those days my father could not walk easily for long distance and at the hotel there was an elevated stage on a raised piece of land to felicitate the teachers and there was no possibility that my father would have reached that place. His students who had come for the celebration deliberated something and a dozen of them lifted him on his shoulders and took him to the stage where he was to be felicitated. Indeed it was a proud moment of his life as he was surrounded by the students who have become army commanders, ambassadors, army chiefs and civil servants. Perhaps that was the zenith point of his life that has shown him the wealth that he had earned by working through out his life. This indeed would have certainly given feeling of bliss and contentment in his life that his efforts in life have not been wasted. After staying for two nights we came back to Chittorgarh. Perhaps it was for the first time that my father visited Jaipur but did not go to my sister’s residence.

Meanwhile as the sight of my father weakened so much that he had nearly become blind. One day my father stumbled into something and fell down and my mother who was coming behind him tried to stop him from falling and she also fell on him. That day just by chance my wife was at home and she picked up both of them. That day she took one of the biggest decision of her life and that as to give up her job and gave notice to school authorities. My elder niece’s marriage was fixed. Here I would like to tell that my elder niece whose name was Nidhi aka Surbhi was an Engineer from Jaganath Institute of  Engineering and Technology and there after she did MBA from Chirst University Bangalore with international exposure of one trimester from Singapore. The boy selected for her was also an Engineer and MBA working in CONCOR. His father worked as an agricultural scientist in some concern of CSIR at Palanpur and belonged to a village near Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. The marriage was fixed for January 13 , 2013 that also happened to be the festival of Lohri. As I had to go to Jaipur to attend Master Trainer’s Training Program under Ms. Connie Greenleaf, Senior English Language Fellow, American Embassy a few days earlier. So my friend Mr. C.M. Koli helped my parents in finding a driver who bought my parents and my wife to Jaipur in my car. Though my father could not see anything but he participated almost in every ceremony of the wedding through the eyes of my mother who related to him everything that was going on. Perhaps this was the last wedding attended by my parents and with this wedding their one of the dream was realized as both of them were very much attached to her. My mother even considered her as the reincarnation of her mother or her sister who had died a few days after her birth.

My niece gave birth to a daughter on October 31, 2014 at Jaipur. My wife was sent at once to help in Jaipur. The girl child was named as Anvi Gahalan. My wife returned when another lady was sent to Jaipur to help my sister and niece. Another wedding that was approaching was of my brother-in-law’s son Harpreet who had settled as soft Engineer in the Melwoucke town of Wisconsin State in USA. He was o be married to Harry Gill who belonged to Patiala and who was studying at that time in Canada. Their marriage was to be held at Sujapur and Patiala and of course a day’s celebration at some resort of Ludhiana. Though my mother wanted to attend this wedding but seeing the condition of my father she was unable to do so. As the plans to go to marriage were being made my niece offered to come to Chittorgarh along with her 45 days old daughter so that we can go to attend the wedding of Harpreet at Punjab. She came to Chittorgarh the same evening of the day when we had proceeded to Punjab to attend the wedding. The wedding was full of fun and celebration.

After attending all the functions we returned back to Chittorgarh on 22-12-2012 next day was the annual reunion of Sainik School Alumni and as usual some of the old students of my father came to meet us at our residence and my mother served them a hot cup of coffee. Next day was birthday of Ishupal and in the afternoon my mother was sitting alone outside the house and when I asked whether everything was alright during our absence she replied quietly that everything seems to be going on well in the world. That day Harpreet along with his newly wed wife had also come to attend Ishupal’s birthday. My mother and Harpreet’s wife started conversing each other things about her childhood and education and other things as both of them belonged to the same tribe. Soon my mother started shivering and she a mild fever. She was hesitant in taking medicine but that day she said “ show me to any doctor if you want other wise I am not sure “. My sister had given medicine due to which fever had come down a bit and we got busy in celebrating Ishupal’s birthday. Next day morning she was feeling so weak that I met a doctor who sent his man to collect her blood sample. And by noon the report came that showed that she was suffering from a special type of malaria know as Phalsiporium. Secondly her Haemoglobin count was very low a little above four. Doctor advised to admit her at once. We took her to Hospital in the car despite her protest my younger son Shiv pal picked her up like a child and put her in the car. During the journey to hospital she only uttered the name of her granddaughter that is my sister’s elder daughter. At the hospital as it was lunch time so there was no attendant or stretcher available and doctor had promised us that he will come soon. Meanwhile the cottage ward allotted to us was on the first floor. Sensing the emergency Shivpal took her in his arms and picked her up and climbed the stairs and put her on thebed. Perhaps it was that point that she collapsed in the arms of her favourite grand son Shivpal. Though doctor came immediately and I had gone to bring the medicines but by the time the doctor came she was beyond the reach of medicine and doctors as she had reached the other world. Like her simple life she had faded away silently and peacefully without disturbing anybody and without giving much trouble to anybody.

Now the problem before us was to break this new to my father who was thinking all the time that she was live while her corpse was lying in the house. Nobody had courage to do so and as he was a cardiac patient we did not know how he will react to it. So the night passed and in the morning my brother-in-law Harendra gave this tragic news to my father barely a couple of hours we were to take her for her last rites. While she was being taken out for funeral my father’s only response was “I was to go before you how come that you are going before me.” This event broke him completely and by this time he had lost the sense of day and night due to his blindness and he would wake up all the night calling out names of neighbours in clear loud voice while sleeping during the day. Another tragic event that befell our family just a fortnight after the demise of my mother was death of my father-in-law Surjeet Singh ji. Again my younger son Shiv Pal was sent to attend his funeral as my father was in no position to be left, so my wife could not attend even the funeral of my father. That was the dedication and sacrifice.

One day I watched that he had started talking strangely as if in a delirium and his food intake had also gone quite slow. In fact it was struggle to take food twice or thrice a day. My wife sometimes even had to thrust food down his throat. In the absence of my mother my wife and my younger son looked after his every need. My younger son Shiv Pal cleaned him ,bathed him and even did his shave and cut his hair with his electric trimmer. Perhaps  l would never forget the dedicated and selfless service done by my Shiv Pal and his mother in the last days of my parent’s life. So I brought the doctor in the car and after examining him he told us that his sodium level has gone low and that is responsible for his strange behaviour. He also advised us to admit him to a private hospital where he was working. So we admitted him to the hospital at once and it was a hard struggle to give medicine and drips and to take blood samples from his body. As it was very difficult to find vein in his body due to shrinking of his skin. However his level of sodium got normal after six days and he started behaving normally so we brought him back to the house.

Everything was normal and he entered the ninetieth year of his life on May 1^st 2015 though this was his first birthday without his wife. However we celebrated his house and he cut the cake in the evening at the dining table and my younger son Shiv Pal even took him for a ride in his new wheel chair. Finding that we had arranged so much for his birthday he was overwhelmed and his expression was “ I am starting feeling like a human being again. If you will keep me thus , how will I leave this world”. My elder son was also present at his birth day celebrations and next day he had to go to France for his Ph.D . So he left for France and life again became normal In the second week of May I had to go to Bikaner for Viva interview for a Ph.D. As I had already given the consent so I went to this place and met a number of old students of my father. When I came back I told him about all of them and he seemed very satisfied to know that his students still remember him and keep him in high esteem. In the third week, I and my wife had planned to go to Punjab to meet our relatives. We had got the seats reserved in the weekly train that normally runs from Udaipur to Jammu Tawi. I called my sister and younger niece Anshu, who was a dentist to look after my father in our absence and then Shiv Pal was there to help them. So I and my wife left for Punjab I the third week of May. While at Punjab my sister informed me on the telephone that he has stopped taking anything and whatever, even water was excreting out of his body. However Shiv Pal was not worried as earlier also my father suffered frequently from loose motions and then he used to recover. However as scheduled we got back into the train at Ludhiana though the train was late by six hours and by the time it reached Chittorgarh in the afternoon at 3 p.m whereas it was scheduled time was 7.30 a.m. After coming home though he was weak but still my father was taking and he enquired about his every relative and was relieved to know that they are well. Still he said one thing, “you still have reached in time”. I could not make sense of his statement and my reply was that no our train had reached atleast seven to eight hours behind schedule. But he repeated the above sentence again.

Next morning my sister and her younger daughter who had come to look after my father had to go back to Jaipur. So I went to leave them at Station but at the station we came to know that due to derailment the train was late by three hours. So we came back and again went three hours later to see them off at the station. After returning from station we had lunch and I had an afternoon nap and my had prepared tea and my family was sipping tea surrounding my father who was lying in the bed. Suddenly the phone rang and it was from Jaipur informing that my sister and her daughter have reached safely at Jaipur. By that time we finished the tea and my wife had gone to keep the glasses in the kitchen and I informed my father about the safe arrival of my sister and her younger daughter. He heaved a sigh of relief and said O.K. when I returned back to his room after washing my hands I saw that my father was moving his hands as if a swimmer tries to save himself from drowning. I called Shivpal and my wife at once. After moving his hands a couple of time he fell back on his people and his eyes became still though they were open. Shiv Pal sensed the inevitable and I rushed out at once to bring the doctor and this doctor happened to be his student who came and declared him dead as there was no activity in heart and lungs. The journey of life that started humbly as the son of a peasant and that gained respect and eminence sheer due to grit, determination and hard work ended and the voice that roared for more than two decades in the class room of Sainik School Chittorgarh and in Hamir House and late on in the premises of Central Academy Chittrgarh fell silent on the evening of May 30, 2014.

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