19.7.10
Dhanbad- Seat of wealth
When Mithilesh Jha asked me to come to Dhanbad, I agreed to visit there on 18th July 2010 as my several recent trips there had been not rewarding organisationally either for the medical(NMO) or Maithili(AMP) despite the fact that 17 times at least I had visited there since 1992, I joined Maithili work(and before that sometimes for the NMO work to the Patliputra Medical College).
Since 1992 after 9 such visits on 1-2 Feb.2003, X International Maithili Conference was held at Dhanbad which was successful.
Dhanbad is famous for coalfields nationally and Black Diamond and Coal Field Expresses are hence named. In the atmosphere of Dhanbad coaldust is common and anybody’s hander kerchief is bound to be black like his/her cloths. I feel if lungs of Dhanbad people are autopsied must be black instead of normal pink colour but they are generous enough ‘large hearted’ in every respect.
Some of my relatives have been there in the vicinity in coal fields – my late maternal uncle was a doctor at Sudamdih, my cousin retired from Bhuli who was initially at Golakdih, other cousin is still working there who live there in Kandra colliery’s abandoned office now used as residential purposes- they used to live initially near Gaushala more at Sindri where is Vidyapati Bhavan at saharpura and I had occasions to visit these all for several reasins.
I also got opportunities to visit BIT(Initially Bihar Institute of Technology, renamed later as Birsa Institute of Technology after Jharkhand was carved out in 2000). I had read in ‘The Hindu,’ some years back in an article by one of the director of IIT,Chennai that initially first IIT was planned in this place only but Dr. B.C.Roy, the Chief Minister of W.Bengal insisted that Bengal was most industrialized state in the country(then it was in fact) and hence that deserved IIT and it was hence placed at Khargapur but for long BIT was excelling like any IIT. Its glory has dampened in past decades but hopefully it will recover as I was informed by Dhirendra Jha, president,AMP, Dhanabad whose son has taken admission there though he was not satisfied and may change to any NIT in further rounds of counseling.
There is CFRI(Central Fuel Research Institute) and all is based on BCCL(Bharat Coking Coal Limited). The township of Jharia is said on fire underneath which may collapse anytime bit people are not vacating since they will loose their livelihood.
The prime institute there is the Indian School of Mines(ISM) where ince I had stayed overnight in the Hostel Emerald. In this visit a student who had done MBA from there(though primarily ISM is meant for the study of Coal and Petrochemicals) Satyjit Chandra informed me the hostels there are named on every types of gems viz. Diamond, Emerald, Topaz(I initially thought it a shaving blade commonly used in India!),sapphire, Amber, and for girls Ruby having Annexe 1,2,3 apart from Opel.
One of its entrance is famous as ‘Steelgate,’ nearto which is the Patliputra Medical College, named on ancient Patna’s name though has lost whatsoever relation it might had with Patna till 2000 AD when Dhanbad was in the state of Bihar. I feel its name better would be changed to Dhanbad Medical College as that name will remain significant always- Dhanbad is ‘the seat of wealth(Dhan)!’
Though this medical college has always remained in news for its recognition with the Medical council of India(MCI), it could get permanent principal after a many years, I read in newspaper when I turned the pages in way to Dhanbad in this visit.
I wished to catch early morning Howrah bound train to go to Dhanbad directly but I missed train despite I was awoke at 4 am due to morning rituals. Anyway I could get Patna Express and while I was waiting I listened to carefully talks of two Secretariat employess of Bihar and Jharkhand. Patna’s land value has a leap in Nitish regime but one of them replied me that corruption is as rampant and so officer’s approach that they do not comply with letters of even chief secretary . They also admitted that RTI was an effective tool but only if you have already correct information on which questions are framed intelligently otherwise an ambiguous reply is usually given .
In fact there were few passengers only and I slept in between. After Chandrapura, I did take my breakfast and asked a fellow passenger to explain ‘;Bhatkhai’ which he was telling to his family members. I felt6 it was like ‘Saujanya’ of Maithil bride’s father by groom’s father and after this only bride’s father takes ‘kachhi or build rice’.
However, the custom has been made complicated and then I explained them maithil’s marriage custom which was so simple till some decades before. Saurth Sabha or assembly of grooms was a convenient thing which initially was held in my village of samaul and was alter shifted to Saurath(related to Saurastra where probably actual Shivalingam of Somnath was brought by priests after Muslim invasion).
I feel that needs revival with an amendement- it should be held with the start of Shuddha rather in the fag end when data of service of groom are difficult to be verified.
I changed train at Netaji SubasChndra junction, Gom and again there was a rush in general compartment and in the same military compartment where I had traveled in June up to Mugalsarai entered. Initially a CRPF jawan resisted but knowing me a doctor did not resit. He was coming from Jammu and had his house at Dhanbad only who wanted to complete his 15 years of service and join some civil work. As per him Kashmir’s conditions were not good and Muslims there are lacking national feeling with India.
I reached Dhanbad and then to Mithileshji’s house in DS Colony and had a long talk on our days of 1980s at Darbhanga when he was a whole timer of the ABVP (like student wing of the RSS) and I was working for the National Medicos Organisation. It was Maithili worker that we again came on one boat where after a very successful meeting met one very old worker D Jha who asked by Prof. Vinay Choudhary of sahara who is currently prsendent of Mithila Vidyarthi Parishad of AMP. I was instrumental to meeting im on phone and both talked for a while about their families etc. D Jha was an incidental introduction with me when in March I had visited Alok Jha’s office and he was called by Mintu of Dhanbad. I had requested D Jha to be president of local AMP which he had accepted and had come to meeting though I did not recognize him initially. As the meeting was in durga mandap and I had no Prayer of Yatreeji I preferred to chant Dyrgamaiyas and Ambejik prayers which I had translated in maithili in the beginning and end. I found Maithils from Darbhanga, Madhubani, Banka, Begusari, Khagaria, Bhagaplur,Katihar, Munger and Sitamarhi districts among 17 who attended-they include from Jhandapur and Kuangarhi where I had gone for AMP camps. A small committee was formed for membership drive and follow up.
Two young persons (one Maithil and other Kannada) came to meet me- Maithil was from Dhanbad and both worked in Karnataka and had come for finding students for their institute. I talked with them – the Kannadaiga was in fact Tulu speaker (from which Engish is said to be developed) from Mangalore. We talked a lot. In fact colossal money is being drained out as Karnataka etc. have made education as industry which need checked.
Some deviation went on inter provincial marriages which I opposed as if Maithil grooms marry outside it was also a loss of a groom for any prospective bride as well as difficulty in maintaining culture. I feel nationalism has nothing to do with it rather it is for some materialistic gains of earning wives.
It was late and I ate food cooked by Chandan, son of Mithileshji and got a rickshaw for station in midnight- there were ups and downs but he pulled rickshaw on hand- I should have been down but I did not though thought for so.
At midnight I have waited many times for Ranchi bound train and I got a ceat in Patliputra Express - In the morning I read in jagaran following Vanachal was hit with a full speed express at Sainthia station- reckless driver and over 50 died!
Dr. Dhanakar Thakur
Spokesman,
Antarrashtriya Maithili Parishad
Monday, July 19, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
MEA 2010 travelogues- IV- Journey to Delhi in ‘Smoking/Bidi coach of Military.
MEA 2010 travelogues- IV- Journey to Delhi in ‘Smoking/Bidi coach of Military.
16.7.2010
When I started for MEA’s site offices’ tours in first phase for election campaigning of 2010-12, it was a difficult task as there were no berths available in most of the trains and hence, it was an unreserved tour of cuircuit Ranchi-Delhi-Durg(Bhilai)- Visakhapatanam-Bangalore-Ranchi and was a horrowing experience.
I went to ranchi station for getting a current unreserved ticket for Delhi would be so difficult was not known to me. At Hatia it is always better to have ticket and seat but I chose the train which started from Ranchi and there was a long queue. The train arrived on platform no.1 and I was also after 2 persons only to take a ticket but the booking girl took a shift change at that critical time which should not have been permitted by supervisor.It took some time but the new booking lady faced computer initiation problem and in this train started. With some persons I also ran and could entrain without a ticket.
There was a young boy who was also like me and he was looking TTEs and said me that no one entered in that compartment.
In such circumstances in fact passengers should not be fined but who listens whom.
At Namkom did stop but was not possible to take a ticket and hence I changed the coach and at Silli I tried to get one. There booking window was open but as the train had no schedule stoppage, the clerk did not give me a ticket. At Muri it stopped and with those some passengers I also went to the window but again train started soon and we had to return back. When train stopped at Jhalida I could go to the booking window and asked for a ticket to Delhi but the clerck could give me a ticket for Gomoh only which was recently named on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bise because from there Netaji had taken a train to Lahore/Peshawar from where he escaped through land route to Europe and in fact he could never return.
There is a good stony sculpture of his which reminds everyone Netaji’s contribution. Gomoh station is more a junction than township and I had many occasions to change trains there. There I could get a ticket despite again a counter I was in front was closed down for receiving money from railway staff of some other distant counters. However there was no rush in other counter and I could get a ticket for Delhi.
The train soon came and there was as expected much rush in general compartment and I had to a request a military that he allow me traveling as I was a doctor to which he agreed respecting a doctor.
I am describing the plight of general passengers that there should be some 4 coaches must in any train and even otherwise from the revenue point of view it would not be in loss seeing jam packed scene, particularly in any train of north India.
After sometime Koderma came which is the station for the township of Jhumaritilaiya famous for Farmaisi songs since radio-era otherwise seat of mica, most abundantly found in the world there. When I was a child used to see the area’s soil glistening with light due to refraction of light from mica in the soil but more illegal than legal mining has reduced the industry to near zero level and people are migrating for livelihood.
When I went inside I was again objected but when I put my hand in pocket to show them my I. card that I was also a Govt. officer they did gave me a seat.
Some 4-5 persons entrained in which one was Commandant in the BSF probably. He was with his younger brothers but was resisted by military personnel. He had no I. card and one of them remarked on the slim body of the Commandant that he did not look like a military officer. He too was in modern student’s half pant like dress and lean and thin. However, other military person could comprehend his status as Company Commander in Army and he was given a seat. They got down after sometime but the rush continued at Gaya and somehow I could come to Mugalsarai and took a sigh of relief. I got down and went to other platform and on a bench I slept for while but soon came a late running Sampark Kranti Express from Bengal and again I entered in the military coach finding less passengers there compared to packed general coach. I was sleepy and in the sideway ,I spread ed newspaper I had purchased only for that and not to read in fact . and slept till Allahabad came where many general public entered saying since 2008 no coach is reserved for military. There I had gone inside on a seat.
My experience of these military coaches are as if they are ‘smoking coaches’ where mostly they smoke harmful Bidis despite ban on that. The smoke was so much in the air that my practice of keeping handkerchief on nose did not work and I used to get up and go to the gate in air which they could smell but did continue smoking despite one of them said to his colleague but it was for him as if more a matter of pleasantaries than inconvenience to me.
As such military persons need health education in matter of smoking and also drinking as well as they need told to cooperate the general public rather obstruct in entering the coach which for the most of the time they capture illegally. I had many such experience of that ,the most shameful was when in 1977 they did not allow me entering at Secunderabad in Nagpur bound Dakhsin Express while with two other medicos I was returning from the relief work of cyclone ravaged coastal Andhara. I had told them to see the Principal’s certificate that we were going on relief work. I feel that is the cause that in none of the house any General’s photo will be hanged though there one can find of Gandhi, Subash Chandrashekhar Axad,Bhagat Singh,etc. who are revered as martyrs. I tis because generals and army men are paid for their services though public honour them they should also reciprocate otherwise many times we read sad news of public-military tussles. Anyway, I reached New Delhi somehow and
(To be continued)..
16.7.2010
When I started for MEA’s site offices’ tours in first phase for election campaigning of 2010-12, it was a difficult task as there were no berths available in most of the trains and hence, it was an unreserved tour of cuircuit Ranchi-Delhi-Durg(Bhilai)- Visakhapatanam-Bangalore-Ranchi and was a horrowing experience.
I went to ranchi station for getting a current unreserved ticket for Delhi would be so difficult was not known to me. At Hatia it is always better to have ticket and seat but I chose the train which started from Ranchi and there was a long queue. The train arrived on platform no.1 and I was also after 2 persons only to take a ticket but the booking girl took a shift change at that critical time which should not have been permitted by supervisor.It took some time but the new booking lady faced computer initiation problem and in this train started. With some persons I also ran and could entrain without a ticket.
There was a young boy who was also like me and he was looking TTEs and said me that no one entered in that compartment.
In such circumstances in fact passengers should not be fined but who listens whom.
At Namkom did stop but was not possible to take a ticket and hence I changed the coach and at Silli I tried to get one. There booking window was open but as the train had no schedule stoppage, the clerk did not give me a ticket. At Muri it stopped and with those some passengers I also went to the window but again train started soon and we had to return back. When train stopped at Jhalida I could go to the booking window and asked for a ticket to Delhi but the clerck could give me a ticket for Gomoh only which was recently named on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bise because from there Netaji had taken a train to Lahore/Peshawar from where he escaped through land route to Europe and in fact he could never return.
There is a good stony sculpture of his which reminds everyone Netaji’s contribution. Gomoh station is more a junction than township and I had many occasions to change trains there. There I could get a ticket despite again a counter I was in front was closed down for receiving money from railway staff of some other distant counters. However there was no rush in other counter and I could get a ticket for Delhi.
The train soon came and there was as expected much rush in general compartment and I had to a request a military that he allow me traveling as I was a doctor to which he agreed respecting a doctor.
I am describing the plight of general passengers that there should be some 4 coaches must in any train and even otherwise from the revenue point of view it would not be in loss seeing jam packed scene, particularly in any train of north India.
After sometime Koderma came which is the station for the township of Jhumaritilaiya famous for Farmaisi songs since radio-era otherwise seat of mica, most abundantly found in the world there. When I was a child used to see the area’s soil glistening with light due to refraction of light from mica in the soil but more illegal than legal mining has reduced the industry to near zero level and people are migrating for livelihood.
When I went inside I was again objected but when I put my hand in pocket to show them my I. card that I was also a Govt. officer they did gave me a seat.
Some 4-5 persons entrained in which one was Commandant in the BSF probably. He was with his younger brothers but was resisted by military personnel. He had no I. card and one of them remarked on the slim body of the Commandant that he did not look like a military officer. He too was in modern student’s half pant like dress and lean and thin. However, other military person could comprehend his status as Company Commander in Army and he was given a seat. They got down after sometime but the rush continued at Gaya and somehow I could come to Mugalsarai and took a sigh of relief. I got down and went to other platform and on a bench I slept for while but soon came a late running Sampark Kranti Express from Bengal and again I entered in the military coach finding less passengers there compared to packed general coach. I was sleepy and in the sideway ,I spread ed newspaper I had purchased only for that and not to read in fact . and slept till Allahabad came where many general public entered saying since 2008 no coach is reserved for military. There I had gone inside on a seat.
My experience of these military coaches are as if they are ‘smoking coaches’ where mostly they smoke harmful Bidis despite ban on that. The smoke was so much in the air that my practice of keeping handkerchief on nose did not work and I used to get up and go to the gate in air which they could smell but did continue smoking despite one of them said to his colleague but it was for him as if more a matter of pleasantaries than inconvenience to me.
As such military persons need health education in matter of smoking and also drinking as well as they need told to cooperate the general public rather obstruct in entering the coach which for the most of the time they capture illegally. I had many such experience of that ,the most shameful was when in 1977 they did not allow me entering at Secunderabad in Nagpur bound Dakhsin Express while with two other medicos I was returning from the relief work of cyclone ravaged coastal Andhara. I had told them to see the Principal’s certificate that we were going on relief work. I feel that is the cause that in none of the house any General’s photo will be hanged though there one can find of Gandhi, Subash Chandrashekhar Axad,Bhagat Singh,etc. who are revered as martyrs. I tis because generals and army men are paid for their services though public honour them they should also reciprocate otherwise many times we read sad news of public-military tussles. Anyway, I reached New Delhi somehow and
(To be continued)..
Thursday, July 15, 2010
MEA 2010 travelogues- Rourkela in the ‘Rurhr’ of India
MEA 2010 travelogues III- Rourkela in the ‘Rurhr’ of India 15.7.2010
Rourkela has a steel plant and I sometime think is it named on ‘Ruhr’ of Germany where are the coal and iron mines in abundant. Though it is not so named in fact the area of Jhrkhand is ‘Ruhr’ of India. Rourkela is in Orissa though Jharkhandis claim that on account of cultural similarities. The soil is also red like that of Ranchi region and in fact situated beneath hills, Rourkela is having a beautiful landscape though due to iron herths and furnaces of plant it has become hot and was humid in the summer when I planned to to visite it on a Sunday .
There was only a passenger train available that day in the morning which I could get although getting a ticket was difficult in long queue at Hatia station and more so if you have a bigger denomination rupee of 100 only. The booking clerk had a point- only few rupees tickets for passengers but luckily after researching my pockets, I could get some money to have just ticket. Lady TTEs were checking tickets for searching some innocent poor for this tribal route.
The rout is picturesque and one of the best and green. The sight of river Koel is unforgettable.On opposite bench was a lady nurse from Gandhinagar Hospital once I worked there but she did not recognize me.
I purchased khajur(date) for Rs.5 and it was too much abd despite too sweet it was a great ask to finish that.
The train passed many stations in hot summer and at one place I got down to take water from tubewell.
At Bano I could not get fruits which was once upon a time a centre for that- semms it was not a good season for papaya.
The train was delayed and halted somewhere. One passenger who had gone far searching water missed the train.
The lady nurse was reading a female magazine which I too turned pages and found many tips on health are provided there though mostly filled with advertisements. It is not that in the past I never had read those but seemed I was a novioce in that field.
The train used to stand anywhere and finally at Bondamunda which has many A,B, C
I reached late in the evening and went straightway to the MECON’s guest house but could meet only one person Dubeyji who listened to me and said that he would ask others when they came.
Then I went to the market of Rourkela to a Maithil person whom I had phoned for a meeting. Meeting was not organized but he welcomed me when he returned in that old building-Chhabda Building near Haryana Bhavan.
He had a lot of stories to share and most important was his finding a good person, a senior engineer at Patratu who could understand the skills of daughter of education and marriage was held with engineer’s son without a dowry – so ideal! Anmd also the person told me as to how a Marwadi seth helped him during that marriage. The Maithil used to help him for unloading his materials many years back when his brother had a transport company. That help was repaid by Marwadi during this marriage without even asking.
The Maithil’s family had gone to Ranchi and I slept there well and next day early morning I went to Rourkela station by walk to take Alleppey –Dhanbad for Hatia-Ranchi.
Since I could meet only one person I revisited Rourkela another day by morning Lokmanya Tilak Express which had a great rush though I could find a seat.
Again the same route but passengers were of other class, not the adivasis for whom local train was life line. It was a train for Mumbai bound students and employees going there or residing there for livelihood.
After an unremarkable journey I reached Rourkela and walked to the Ispat Bhavan and talked my voters who were much impressed though again that was not translated in votes under some polarizing effects of region though I had stressed on national integreity.
They managed a car for seeing me to station where I met some SAIL workers who had been on a regular weekly trip to ranchi and they use to manage trip by giving Rs.30 as a tip to TTE though I went initially to general compartment, they did press and I was to share with them a journey in Hatia bound super express without a proper reservation ticket on same token Rs.30-one of them took from me and went to some other compartment to give to TTE who did not come even to check us.
The train has hordes of students and young employees returning from IT hub Bangalore. A lot of money is being drained outside of Bihar and Jharkhand for study there and then most of such boys and girls get employment there too.
The train was late in between and I knew from those regular passengers the ordeals of lside lines and mid lines and trains after train and stations they were knowing so precisely in their regular journey. Lucklily I could get Patli Express for my onwards journey which was probably delayed for some minutes to give connection as was already professed by those regular commutators.9 To be continued)..
Dr. Dhanakar Thakur
Spokesman,
Antarrashtriya Maithili Parishad
Rourkela has a steel plant and I sometime think is it named on ‘Ruhr’ of Germany where are the coal and iron mines in abundant. Though it is not so named in fact the area of Jhrkhand is ‘Ruhr’ of India. Rourkela is in Orissa though Jharkhandis claim that on account of cultural similarities. The soil is also red like that of Ranchi region and in fact situated beneath hills, Rourkela is having a beautiful landscape though due to iron herths and furnaces of plant it has become hot and was humid in the summer when I planned to to visite it on a Sunday .
There was only a passenger train available that day in the morning which I could get although getting a ticket was difficult in long queue at Hatia station and more so if you have a bigger denomination rupee of 100 only. The booking clerk had a point- only few rupees tickets for passengers but luckily after researching my pockets, I could get some money to have just ticket. Lady TTEs were checking tickets for searching some innocent poor for this tribal route.
The rout is picturesque and one of the best and green. The sight of river Koel is unforgettable.On opposite bench was a lady nurse from Gandhinagar Hospital once I worked there but she did not recognize me.
I purchased khajur(date) for Rs.5 and it was too much abd despite too sweet it was a great ask to finish that.
The train passed many stations in hot summer and at one place I got down to take water from tubewell.
At Bano I could not get fruits which was once upon a time a centre for that- semms it was not a good season for papaya.
The train was delayed and halted somewhere. One passenger who had gone far searching water missed the train.
The lady nurse was reading a female magazine which I too turned pages and found many tips on health are provided there though mostly filled with advertisements. It is not that in the past I never had read those but seemed I was a novioce in that field.
The train used to stand anywhere and finally at Bondamunda which has many A,B, C
I reached late in the evening and went straightway to the MECON’s guest house but could meet only one person Dubeyji who listened to me and said that he would ask others when they came.
Then I went to the market of Rourkela to a Maithil person whom I had phoned for a meeting. Meeting was not organized but he welcomed me when he returned in that old building-Chhabda Building near Haryana Bhavan.
He had a lot of stories to share and most important was his finding a good person, a senior engineer at Patratu who could understand the skills of daughter of education and marriage was held with engineer’s son without a dowry – so ideal! Anmd also the person told me as to how a Marwadi seth helped him during that marriage. The Maithil used to help him for unloading his materials many years back when his brother had a transport company. That help was repaid by Marwadi during this marriage without even asking.
The Maithil’s family had gone to Ranchi and I slept there well and next day early morning I went to Rourkela station by walk to take Alleppey –Dhanbad for Hatia-Ranchi.
Since I could meet only one person I revisited Rourkela another day by morning Lokmanya Tilak Express which had a great rush though I could find a seat.
Again the same route but passengers were of other class, not the adivasis for whom local train was life line. It was a train for Mumbai bound students and employees going there or residing there for livelihood.
After an unremarkable journey I reached Rourkela and walked to the Ispat Bhavan and talked my voters who were much impressed though again that was not translated in votes under some polarizing effects of region though I had stressed on national integreity.
They managed a car for seeing me to station where I met some SAIL workers who had been on a regular weekly trip to ranchi and they use to manage trip by giving Rs.30 as a tip to TTE though I went initially to general compartment, they did press and I was to share with them a journey in Hatia bound super express without a proper reservation ticket on same token Rs.30-one of them took from me and went to some other compartment to give to TTE who did not come even to check us.
The train has hordes of students and young employees returning from IT hub Bangalore. A lot of money is being drained outside of Bihar and Jharkhand for study there and then most of such boys and girls get employment there too.
The train was late in between and I knew from those regular passengers the ordeals of lside lines and mid lines and trains after train and stations they were knowing so precisely in their regular journey. Lucklily I could get Patli Express for my onwards journey which was probably delayed for some minutes to give connection as was already professed by those regular commutators.9 To be continued)..
Dr. Dhanakar Thakur
Spokesman,
Antarrashtriya Maithili Parishad
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
MEA 2010 travelogues- Bokaro Or Marfari
MEA 2010 travelogues- Bokaro Or Marfari
14.7.2010
After a long gap I resume my blogs. I was busy with Mecon Executives Associations’ election for 2010-12 where I contested unsuccessfully for the post of president and had a taste of election once more where my simple comment-“in a highly polarized(Bengali vs. non-Bengali or Punjabi vs. non-Panjabi) Meconians lost the issues and what I lost precious 10 days’ casual leaves and may be some thousand rupees in train fair.
What I gained a lot of experience in traveling and a taste of delivering some three dozens speeches,
I lost despite praises from all sections of executives mostly engineers who primarily design steel plants but could not give me vote because more they had hate for Bengalis or Panjabis and to a great extent they could not assimilate a doctor as their president! Yet some choose to vote me and them only a few were from doctors.
A young engineer from Bangalore commented they did a blunder but I replied it was in a sense better for me as I would save my energy for the greater nation building work of which those engineers are but a small entity though I loved and admired them.
And I plan to tell you the story of the grand traveling of India of around 13000 km in a serial which will not include Durgapur-Burnpur-Kolkata I already blogged. Bokaro- Rourkela- Delhi- Bhilai- Visakhapatanam-Bangalore-Ranchi and then again Rourkela-Kanpur-Delhi-Mumbai-Bangalore-Annavaram- Ranchi will be the routes I will cover.
Bokaro is adjacent to Ranchi and I have innumerable trips there. There are many Bokaros- Bokaro Steel City I wish to mention here not the Bokaro Thermal, or West Bokaro far away from Steel City..which had station in Marafari and it was the term when in 1970s I used to travel by Ranchi-Patna express the lone train passing in night when many people used to come with sticks to entrain their one friend or family and we used to be under great tension as if some one will pierce with pear during fight (Marafari as connotes in Hindi)..In fact had Bokaro expanded like it was envisioned, the station would have been in its centre but it is said Biju Patnayak when he was Steel Minister, he curtailed the plan in favour of Orissa!
My journey to Bokaro was as usual like hundreds of I had of that place and reached there in the evening. Bokaro had a tradition of trekkers to take you to city/ township of several lakhs and fare of Rs. 10 will not you feel more but number of passengers 4+5+3+3 and may be one more on each side of the front excepting driver!
I recall the value of Rs. One for such a tempo driver long back when it had some value on which I had thought to write a story,’Ispatnagari ka tempowala,” but I could not and still that value of Rs.1 is same despite inflation and so anglicized word for Sector IV. IX, but barah More they speak not Twelfth where I had to go and a maithil Kali temple is there but I could go to Naya More only and then I walked to my maternal uncle’s quarters who was just retired from the SAIL.
Morning I was left in the BSL office by Mamji and I had entered MECON Office easily and talked my fellow colleagues and returned quicly to get Jaynagar-Ranchi train incidentally being late. The train initiated by me and to a large extent worked by me has been brought in new time table after a great effort since 1996.
The train was full of Maithils and I could get at least one Maihtil youth from Kaluahi Jay son of a Youth ongress leader working in Assam who was succumbed to an accident at delhi when they shifted after threat from extremists in Assam.
The Youngman was working at Hyderabad and we discussed a lot. The train crossed W.Bengal’s some stations in Purulia district when mobiles cut roaming charges before it reaches Muri crossing Swarnrekha river with which I had several memories,including of a picnic on its banks and a Chhat Arghya in its water. The train became late as its engine failed near Gangaghat and finally I had to change that and to take Alleppy Express to reach Ranchi by a green picturesque route.(Continued..)
14.7.2010
After a long gap I resume my blogs. I was busy with Mecon Executives Associations’ election for 2010-12 where I contested unsuccessfully for the post of president and had a taste of election once more where my simple comment-“in a highly polarized(Bengali vs. non-Bengali or Punjabi vs. non-Panjabi) Meconians lost the issues and what I lost precious 10 days’ casual leaves and may be some thousand rupees in train fair.
What I gained a lot of experience in traveling and a taste of delivering some three dozens speeches,
I lost despite praises from all sections of executives mostly engineers who primarily design steel plants but could not give me vote because more they had hate for Bengalis or Panjabis and to a great extent they could not assimilate a doctor as their president! Yet some choose to vote me and them only a few were from doctors.
A young engineer from Bangalore commented they did a blunder but I replied it was in a sense better for me as I would save my energy for the greater nation building work of which those engineers are but a small entity though I loved and admired them.
And I plan to tell you the story of the grand traveling of India of around 13000 km in a serial which will not include Durgapur-Burnpur-Kolkata I already blogged. Bokaro- Rourkela- Delhi- Bhilai- Visakhapatanam-Bangalore-Ranchi and then again Rourkela-Kanpur-Delhi-Mumbai-Bangalore-Annavaram- Ranchi will be the routes I will cover.
Bokaro is adjacent to Ranchi and I have innumerable trips there. There are many Bokaros- Bokaro Steel City I wish to mention here not the Bokaro Thermal, or West Bokaro far away from Steel City..which had station in Marafari and it was the term when in 1970s I used to travel by Ranchi-Patna express the lone train passing in night when many people used to come with sticks to entrain their one friend or family and we used to be under great tension as if some one will pierce with pear during fight (Marafari as connotes in Hindi)..In fact had Bokaro expanded like it was envisioned, the station would have been in its centre but it is said Biju Patnayak when he was Steel Minister, he curtailed the plan in favour of Orissa!
My journey to Bokaro was as usual like hundreds of I had of that place and reached there in the evening. Bokaro had a tradition of trekkers to take you to city/ township of several lakhs and fare of Rs. 10 will not you feel more but number of passengers 4+5+3+3 and may be one more on each side of the front excepting driver!
I recall the value of Rs. One for such a tempo driver long back when it had some value on which I had thought to write a story,’Ispatnagari ka tempowala,” but I could not and still that value of Rs.1 is same despite inflation and so anglicized word for Sector IV. IX, but barah More they speak not Twelfth where I had to go and a maithil Kali temple is there but I could go to Naya More only and then I walked to my maternal uncle’s quarters who was just retired from the SAIL.
Morning I was left in the BSL office by Mamji and I had entered MECON Office easily and talked my fellow colleagues and returned quicly to get Jaynagar-Ranchi train incidentally being late. The train initiated by me and to a large extent worked by me has been brought in new time table after a great effort since 1996.
The train was full of Maithils and I could get at least one Maihtil youth from Kaluahi Jay son of a Youth ongress leader working in Assam who was succumbed to an accident at delhi when they shifted after threat from extremists in Assam.
The Youngman was working at Hyderabad and we discussed a lot. The train crossed W.Bengal’s some stations in Purulia district when mobiles cut roaming charges before it reaches Muri crossing Swarnrekha river with which I had several memories,including of a picnic on its banks and a Chhat Arghya in its water. The train became late as its engine failed near Gangaghat and finally I had to change that and to take Alleppy Express to reach Ranchi by a green picturesque route.(Continued..)
Friday, July 2, 2010
Vinay Tarun_An obituary: An Award needs instituted on young journalist
Vinay Tarun_An obituary: An Award needs instituted on young journalist
Very few persons become so close to any unknown and leave for good.
I saw Vinay Tarun on the night of 26.12.2008 first time at his house at Purnea and that young Vinay of 28 years is no more..succumbed to a railway accident at Nathnagar near Bhagalpur where he was working in the Hindustan daily.
My first visit to his house was sheer accidental when my friend Dr.Amrendra Jha told me on that day that he could not arrange any meeting rather such a press meeting was arranged by Pinki whose number was with Kripanand Jha of Delhi. Kripanand phoned him and Pinki was ready at that dark evening near Kala Bhavan collecting all reporters despite we were late because of our route lost from Katihar.
Pinki asked us to go to her house and she guided us. A girl on a motorcycle(Rajdoot),she seemed to be unique in Mithila.
At house I saw she entered in kitchen. I asked her father about her mother. She had passed away sometimes back in young age.
Vinay was there. He had jaundice; he contracted from Koshi flood area where he worked as a dynamic worker apart from a reporter.
Even on that day Prof. Agrawal from Delhi had come and was staying there after distribution of blankets brought from Delhi for Koshi flood victims.
After that I had many visits of Bhagalpur where I used to stay at his 5th floor one room apartment near Muslim School and have many memoirs, many of which I have shared in blogs.
Though age-wise he was of my son's age had I any child but always I behaved with him as a younger worker of Mithila.
Once he told me that Neetish Kumar was trying to censure Mithila state news but if people go on roads any pressure on newspapers will not work.
He was an avid reader, a good reporter and very humble boy as per his name.
On his bike I had gone to Munger and twice Sultanganj apart from Sabour. He went to Araria also that newspapers covered Maithili conference so widely.
Only two months back I had recommended his name to IRDS, Lucknow for
Surendra Pratap Singh Award named on a journalist, news anchor, and newspaper editor who was not only the founder of Aaj Tak but is often regarded as the first true investigative journalist and is credited with having produced a host of fantastic journalists.
Probably another award need instituted on Vinay Tarun's name whose reports on Bandhua mazdoors and floods need compilation.
He used to send me all clippings related to Mithila as and when published and many times published my comments and programmes talking on phone that my time was utilized. He tried to convince Angika youths about me and arranged my meetings with them in Nathnagar that many of them could understand that they were like us culturally alike. What many professors of Bhagalpur could not achieve he did in harmonising Maithil society which is badly vivisected on the name of Angika-Maithili while the fact remained both are one! It took me time and patience too but now that process started will not get matured without Vinay, I think though I will try to re-contact those youth.
I feel as if my right hand is chopped knowing that he was no more- on that day I was at Mumbai and then in continued tours that I did not talk him since a month. He had told me that he would take leave in June for further study and would shift to Jamshedpur in job where his elder sister is married. The family is ruined after this shock. Unmarried other sister Pinki, a journalist with Hindustan at Patna and father SNL Das leaving in Teacher's Colony, Purnea all must be in sea of sorrow.
Yesterday evening I had a call from Kripanand from Saharsa when I was delivering a speech at the Blast Furnace section of Mecon where I am contesting for the post of president of the Association. I told him that I would talk him later and when I talked him after a while it was he who gave me the shocking news. Later I phoned Pushyamitra who was introduced to me by Vinay who had already this news. Awadhes Paswan of Jhandapur who came in the AMP due to Vinay where we had a camp had also this news from someone. Sudhirnath Mishra from Araria will visit soon Purnea house once Vinay's father returns from Gaya after his last rites.
May Bhagwati give Him peace. For us a vacuum will remain forever of a young dynamic Mithila worker who had values in his small but meaningful life.
Very few persons become so close to any unknown and leave for good.
I saw Vinay Tarun on the night of 26.12.2008 first time at his house at Purnea and that young Vinay of 28 years is no more..succumbed to a railway accident at Nathnagar near Bhagalpur where he was working in the Hindustan daily.
My first visit to his house was sheer accidental when my friend Dr.Amrendra Jha told me on that day that he could not arrange any meeting rather such a press meeting was arranged by Pinki whose number was with Kripanand Jha of Delhi. Kripanand phoned him and Pinki was ready at that dark evening near Kala Bhavan collecting all reporters despite we were late because of our route lost from Katihar.
Pinki asked us to go to her house and she guided us. A girl on a motorcycle(Rajdoot),she seemed to be unique in Mithila.
At house I saw she entered in kitchen. I asked her father about her mother. She had passed away sometimes back in young age.
Vinay was there. He had jaundice; he contracted from Koshi flood area where he worked as a dynamic worker apart from a reporter.
Even on that day Prof. Agrawal from Delhi had come and was staying there after distribution of blankets brought from Delhi for Koshi flood victims.
After that I had many visits of Bhagalpur where I used to stay at his 5th floor one room apartment near Muslim School and have many memoirs, many of which I have shared in blogs.
Though age-wise he was of my son's age had I any child but always I behaved with him as a younger worker of Mithila.
Once he told me that Neetish Kumar was trying to censure Mithila state news but if people go on roads any pressure on newspapers will not work.
He was an avid reader, a good reporter and very humble boy as per his name.
On his bike I had gone to Munger and twice Sultanganj apart from Sabour. He went to Araria also that newspapers covered Maithili conference so widely.
Only two months back I had recommended his name to IRDS, Lucknow for
Surendra Pratap Singh Award named on a journalist, news anchor, and newspaper editor who was not only the founder of Aaj Tak but is often regarded as the first true investigative journalist and is credited with having produced a host of fantastic journalists.
Probably another award need instituted on Vinay Tarun's name whose reports on Bandhua mazdoors and floods need compilation.
He used to send me all clippings related to Mithila as and when published and many times published my comments and programmes talking on phone that my time was utilized. He tried to convince Angika youths about me and arranged my meetings with them in Nathnagar that many of them could understand that they were like us culturally alike. What many professors of Bhagalpur could not achieve he did in harmonising Maithil society which is badly vivisected on the name of Angika-Maithili while the fact remained both are one! It took me time and patience too but now that process started will not get matured without Vinay, I think though I will try to re-contact those youth.
I feel as if my right hand is chopped knowing that he was no more- on that day I was at Mumbai and then in continued tours that I did not talk him since a month. He had told me that he would take leave in June for further study and would shift to Jamshedpur in job where his elder sister is married. The family is ruined after this shock. Unmarried other sister Pinki, a journalist with Hindustan at Patna and father SNL Das leaving in Teacher's Colony, Purnea all must be in sea of sorrow.
Yesterday evening I had a call from Kripanand from Saharsa when I was delivering a speech at the Blast Furnace section of Mecon where I am contesting for the post of president of the Association. I told him that I would talk him later and when I talked him after a while it was he who gave me the shocking news. Later I phoned Pushyamitra who was introduced to me by Vinay who had already this news. Awadhes Paswan of Jhandapur who came in the AMP due to Vinay where we had a camp had also this news from someone. Sudhirnath Mishra from Araria will visit soon Purnea house once Vinay's father returns from Gaya after his last rites.
May Bhagwati give Him peace. For us a vacuum will remain forever of a young dynamic Mithila worker who had values in his small but meaningful life.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
MEA 2010 Travels-1- Durgapur, Burnpur,Kolkata
MEA 2010 Travels-1- Durgapur, Burnpur,
> Kolkata
>
> In 2008 Mecon Executive Association's election I had
> filed nomination for the post of president and got around 30
> per cent votes in a straight contest with the incumbent
> president. I work as a doctor for this GOI undertaking where
> all executives are the embers of the MEA.
>
> When I filed nomination in 2008 I had undertaken a long
> journey covering Rourkela, Bhilai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,
> Visakhapattanam, Angul, Kolkata, Durgapur, Bokaro offices of
> MECOn and had gone to steel plant of Visakhapatanam inside
> to see how our employees work under constrains.
>
> Since in 2010 again I filed my nomination I decided to meet
> my voters.
>
> I am otherwise a well travelled person and have some links
> everywhere. Already I have covered around 7000 km and in
> next phase may be same distance will be covered in next
> week.
>
>
>
> This time my journey started with Durgapur named on the
> goddess Durga.
>
> I had been to Durgapur previously sometimes to meet my
> sister's son studing in the NIT there and to meet my
> sister, the daughter of my mother's sister whose husband
> works in the steel plant there.
>
>
>
> The train to Durgpur from Ranchi was late around 3 hours
> and I could get last minute reservation. The TTE was somehow
> impressed by me once he knew I was a relative of late
> Chandrakant Jha, an ideal person, station manger of
> Ranchi,always in dhoti.
>
> The TTE requested me to write for incresing coaches in
> Ranchi-Kamakhya express(which I wrote to authorities after
> my return ,along with restoration of old days of running and
> time earlier departure from Kamakhya end. While I was
> charginjg my mobile there, a semi-literate person from Jamui
> came to him for general tickets in Patliputra Express which
> was on platform and due to some hot exhanges with passengers
> the booking clerk had closed window. The TTE showed his
> inability, I asked him to lodge a complaint in the meantime
> window was opened, he was given three tickets for Jamui but
> the train had startyed and he had to refund ticket. The man
> again approached me but I had no paper for writing
> complaints. After my tours I had again complained on his
> behalf with some suggestions for security and more windows
> and also for some other trains like Jaynagar Express and
> Bhagalpur Express via Kiul as well as for the trial train to
> Jogbani during coming Puja vacation.
>
> I wonder if Railway authorities do heard some petitions but
> till all gazetted officers(of any department) are empowered
> to suspend such guilty employees of any department, the
> menace of corruption and rough appraoch in working will not
> be under control. Though I was a very high official I could
> not help that poor citizen of India who had to miss his
> train for no fault of his and also lost some money.
>
>
>
> When I woke up in the early morning it seemed that Durgapur
> had passed but no it was about to come. I became ready and
> after some minutes it was Durgapur. I came out. The city bus
> for A Zone was to come after sometime. I gazed to the
> antique railway engine and read lines written there with
> interest-
>
> "It huffed
>
> It puffed.
>
> It chugged."
>
> as engine made in 1907 worked for the Bankura/Bengal
> Damodar River Railway till 1996 with a maximum speed of 32
> km/h
>
> I had a memory of narrow guage rail travel to Laohardaga
> with British Simon Mortimer who had travelled almost all
> such routes of India and we are in a close contact. I have
> written some sensuous poems on her wedding with a Polsh
> beauty.
>
> The bus to A zone came and soon I was again near Nehru
> Stadium but the way to my sister's quarter was guided by
> a Telugu woman who was strolling on the road with her friend
> to reduce the weight.
>
> I was read and after some time I started for Ispat Bhavan
> changing bus at Prantika,
>
> I had been to that office two years back but this time I
> could meet G V Aruna who was working with me at Bangalore
> office and had his chmber adjacent to me. He was a Kannada
> lover whose 90+ father had written Anglo-Kannada Dictionary.
> Aruna introduced me to others as if I was a scholarly
> person.
>
> The MEA activist there was apprehensive whether in a
> triangular contest I would be winner. I suggested him to
> make up his mind watching the scene at the end when he may
> find positive inputes for me for I think double negatives
> would turn to a positive in my case.
>
> I took a bus for Asansol and changing for the city bus to
> Burnpur's Riverside again I was in the office of MECOn
> on 'Tee" Road- I could not know the genesis of TEE
> if not it was on 'T' of 'Tea."
>
> There were some persons and I was directed to go to the
> guest house but again I was directed by some persons to have
> a bus for Riverside Mecon Residency where I had visited 2
> years back too.
>
> In a rural, underdeveloped area our senior employees were
> also living and I could many when they were returning after
> lunch to factory. Younf Ravibhushan could recognise me and
> as usual I am enthused by young blood for any change.
>
> I was dropped b one of them to TEE Road office again where
> I had a long discussion on the form of God as per Hindu
> scriptures. I was dropped by a car to nearby Burnpur station
> for taking a train to Purulia. I could guess a boy as
> Maithil who turned to be a native from Mansi(Khagaria) and
> gave him some literature and banner for Mithila.
>
> One old person told me many things about the steel company
> there which was once owned by Martin Burn who had a manager
> named Luther and was later purchased by an Indian Biren
> Mukherjee whose wife Rani Mukherjee was a friend of Indira
> Gandhi(may be at Shantiniketan). Still the hospital of the
> IISCo is named on Rani Mukherjee.
>
> In y next visit to Burnpur again I had some refreshing
> memories- starting from Asansol itself which too has a small
> engine named Tilottama (means very beutiful ladies like
> little Til, the blackseed for oil)..This time a little girl
> though not like Tilottam was having an edge while talking
> over his classmate of class XII. She was going to Riverside
> and calculated sharply as to how 9 km will be that from
> Asansol as I was preparing myself to have a walk after
> meeting my voters at Riverside- again I could spott a native
> of Samastipur as khalasi of that bus who only could guide me
> correctly where MECON Residency was. Maithils are sharp and
> so the are at every stage-even among in Class IV employees
> one can find a Jha leader in Jharkhand Secretariat once a
> Deputy secretary had told me.
>
> I found whole atmosphere as hotche potch for our workers
> and made up my mind to work for their welfare through many
> innovative ways if I am elected. I told to a young person
> despite knowing that he campaigned for my opponent that I
> would redress his problem and so to other person while
> returning through that hostel as I know a president once
> elected remains president for all whether one had voted for
> him or not.
>
> Though despite two visits I could not meet all executives,
> I talked some on phone. Near to Ranchi people are more
> meshed in the politics of MEA there and at the same time are
> more perplexed over their difficult working condition.
>
> While going to Riverside there I witnessed a good hot
> exchange between driver and conductor over tiffin perk.
> Whole atmosphere is charged with such nuances. When I took
> off from the hostel at the T-crossing one car stopped and
> the driver gave me a lift for a tip and left me at Burnpur
> station. The window clerk asked the station- atrain
> Haldia-Asansol was waiting for me(in fact was stranded for a
> Bankura passenger crossing). I was at platform 7 and the
> monsoon had its knocking with my arrival(which usaully
> happens as I am born on a Trayodashi and if I feel too much
> hot and humid there will be b the Grace of God, rains even
> without clouds!).
>
>
>
> I went outside to search some food items but there was no
> shop. After some distance I found a mango vender and took
> three for Rs.6 only.
>
> I came inside station and observed some hot exchange on
> enquiry though I was not in queue knowing well my train
> Vanachal Express was after 2-3 hours.
>
> When I entered main gate and was willing to go for tape
> water, a young railway employee came out and I guessed that
> he was the employee who was irrtated on counter. Yes he was.
> I told him to maintain calm as our half of the countrymen
> can somehow sign and as migrant to other linguistic
> territory they are under pressure. I told him that if any
> passenger was putting his hands forcefully on the mike
> outsde still he should have maintained calm or would have
> asked security person and it was not proper for him to
> retaliate and said if I would have been his officer I would
> have made a reverse entry on his working though I remrked
> that his behaviour was out of frustration for that job
> though he might be more skilled which he accepted.
>
> That employee was in fact from Jagdishpur, Bhagalpur. After
> washing mangoes and eating again I saw him and asked his
> profile. He was MA(HIndi) and was planning for UPSC. I told
> him that such persons can hardly e successful for IAS if
> they would accept a low grade finding something in hand.
>
> And that was the cause of rush in all examinations. One
> should have estimation of his/her worth and persue for that.
> I told him the story of my Class XI days when father of my
> friend did not attest my marksheets knowing I was planning
> to apply for RMS Clerk rather he called me and asked if I
> had any financial problem where he could help me. He said
> joing a job will not make you prepare for higher goals in
> life.
>
>
>
>
>
> Asansol station is a big one and foot over bridges are made
> very beautifully designed(but without much thinking on
> stampede on rush). I watched many trains coming and going-
> all had rush, One boy going to Bokaro helped me though I got
> seats comfortably and returned Ranchi almost sleeping after
> one Bhimkay (obese) passenger from Katihar got down at
> Chandrapura. Owner of a shop, his daughter was about to join
> an engineering college at Chennai; his son was also studying
> there. The wife of that perspn was from Khagria who who was
> slim and I joked at her that she must have problems with him
> and so ask him not to eat more and walk upto Katihar from
> Gedabari daily(19 km).
>
> I got up at Ranchi and came to my residence, Shyamali, in
> fact named after."Shyamoli,", the residence of
> Gurude Rabidra at Shantiniketan,,a student of which Shilpa
> Bishwas had I seen in local train to Burddhaman.. Shilpa was
> from Chatgram(bangfladesh) and she told me that still there
> were large number of Hindus. I told her that I knew only
> Shilpa Shetty and shilpa Bindi. She was in a 10 year course
> of Ph D(after class 10) in Dabce and Music and was
> interested in Rabindra sageet. She was knowing Mastrada
> Suryasen and Preetilate Woddar. She had come some distance
> by flight and then by train and had entered in the same
> copartment (of vendors I had entered inknowingly) and that
> was a 'smoking cahmber' with biris and so I changed
> after two-three stations but she did not(may be provoked by
> venders not to with unknown man like me though she had also
> been agreed and I might have helped in transferring her
> baggages as I had little.
>
> The suburban train of Kolkata have plenty of food materials
> at low cost, I ate pani-malai particulrly, three times for
> Rs.3 each becuase it was a hot afternoon though I had banans
> and guava also and surely those were tasty particularly
> after a fast since morning(and after a well received
> lecture, less on MECON and more on Bengal and nation) at
> Kolkata where I was on my insisted questioning could have
> only one why to raise age 62 for retirement at the same
> stroke I was saying any organisation should have one third
> new faces and one third retained. He could not grasp that I
> told so for a committee , for age of retirement will be
> common to all,even youngers will have that benifit. This
> morning I listened on the BBC on this issue- it already 62
> in France and many other countries however some have 60 and
> 65 for females and males too!
>
> Though eastern part of offices are still like Bokaro,
> Rourkela to describe, here I take a break to meet my
> voters..
> Kolkata
>
> In 2008 Mecon Executive Association's election I had
> filed nomination for the post of president and got around 30
> per cent votes in a straight contest with the incumbent
> president. I work as a doctor for this GOI undertaking where
> all executives are the embers of the MEA.
>
> When I filed nomination in 2008 I had undertaken a long
> journey covering Rourkela, Bhilai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,
> Visakhapattanam, Angul, Kolkata, Durgapur, Bokaro offices of
> MECOn and had gone to steel plant of Visakhapatanam inside
> to see how our employees work under constrains.
>
> Since in 2010 again I filed my nomination I decided to meet
> my voters.
>
> I am otherwise a well travelled person and have some links
> everywhere. Already I have covered around 7000 km and in
> next phase may be same distance will be covered in next
> week.
>
>
>
> This time my journey started with Durgapur named on the
> goddess Durga.
>
> I had been to Durgapur previously sometimes to meet my
> sister's son studing in the NIT there and to meet my
> sister, the daughter of my mother's sister whose husband
> works in the steel plant there.
>
>
>
> The train to Durgpur from Ranchi was late around 3 hours
> and I could get last minute reservation. The TTE was somehow
> impressed by me once he knew I was a relative of late
> Chandrakant Jha, an ideal person, station manger of
> Ranchi,always in dhoti.
>
> The TTE requested me to write for incresing coaches in
> Ranchi-Kamakhya express(which I wrote to authorities after
> my return ,along with restoration of old days of running and
> time earlier departure from Kamakhya end. While I was
> charginjg my mobile there, a semi-literate person from Jamui
> came to him for general tickets in Patliputra Express which
> was on platform and due to some hot exhanges with passengers
> the booking clerk had closed window. The TTE showed his
> inability, I asked him to lodge a complaint in the meantime
> window was opened, he was given three tickets for Jamui but
> the train had startyed and he had to refund ticket. The man
> again approached me but I had no paper for writing
> complaints. After my tours I had again complained on his
> behalf with some suggestions for security and more windows
> and also for some other trains like Jaynagar Express and
> Bhagalpur Express via Kiul as well as for the trial train to
> Jogbani during coming Puja vacation.
>
> I wonder if Railway authorities do heard some petitions but
> till all gazetted officers(of any department) are empowered
> to suspend such guilty employees of any department, the
> menace of corruption and rough appraoch in working will not
> be under control. Though I was a very high official I could
> not help that poor citizen of India who had to miss his
> train for no fault of his and also lost some money.
>
>
>
> When I woke up in the early morning it seemed that Durgapur
> had passed but no it was about to come. I became ready and
> after some minutes it was Durgapur. I came out. The city bus
> for A Zone was to come after sometime. I gazed to the
> antique railway engine and read lines written there with
> interest-
>
> "It huffed
>
> It puffed.
>
> It chugged."
>
> as engine made in 1907 worked for the Bankura/Bengal
> Damodar River Railway till 1996 with a maximum speed of 32
> km/h
>
> I had a memory of narrow guage rail travel to Laohardaga
> with British Simon Mortimer who had travelled almost all
> such routes of India and we are in a close contact. I have
> written some sensuous poems on her wedding with a Polsh
> beauty.
>
> The bus to A zone came and soon I was again near Nehru
> Stadium but the way to my sister's quarter was guided by
> a Telugu woman who was strolling on the road with her friend
> to reduce the weight.
>
> I was read and after some time I started for Ispat Bhavan
> changing bus at Prantika,
>
> I had been to that office two years back but this time I
> could meet G V Aruna who was working with me at Bangalore
> office and had his chmber adjacent to me. He was a Kannada
> lover whose 90+ father had written Anglo-Kannada Dictionary.
> Aruna introduced me to others as if I was a scholarly
> person.
>
> The MEA activist there was apprehensive whether in a
> triangular contest I would be winner. I suggested him to
> make up his mind watching the scene at the end when he may
> find positive inputes for me for I think double negatives
> would turn to a positive in my case.
>
> I took a bus for Asansol and changing for the city bus to
> Burnpur's Riverside again I was in the office of MECOn
> on 'Tee" Road- I could not know the genesis of TEE
> if not it was on 'T' of 'Tea."
>
> There were some persons and I was directed to go to the
> guest house but again I was directed by some persons to have
> a bus for Riverside Mecon Residency where I had visited 2
> years back too.
>
> In a rural, underdeveloped area our senior employees were
> also living and I could many when they were returning after
> lunch to factory. Younf Ravibhushan could recognise me and
> as usual I am enthused by young blood for any change.
>
> I was dropped b one of them to TEE Road office again where
> I had a long discussion on the form of God as per Hindu
> scriptures. I was dropped by a car to nearby Burnpur station
> for taking a train to Purulia. I could guess a boy as
> Maithil who turned to be a native from Mansi(Khagaria) and
> gave him some literature and banner for Mithila.
>
> One old person told me many things about the steel company
> there which was once owned by Martin Burn who had a manager
> named Luther and was later purchased by an Indian Biren
> Mukherjee whose wife Rani Mukherjee was a friend of Indira
> Gandhi(may be at Shantiniketan). Still the hospital of the
> IISCo is named on Rani Mukherjee.
>
> In y next visit to Burnpur again I had some refreshing
> memories- starting from Asansol itself which too has a small
> engine named Tilottama (means very beutiful ladies like
> little Til, the blackseed for oil)..This time a little girl
> though not like Tilottam was having an edge while talking
> over his classmate of class XII. She was going to Riverside
> and calculated sharply as to how 9 km will be that from
> Asansol as I was preparing myself to have a walk after
> meeting my voters at Riverside- again I could spott a native
> of Samastipur as khalasi of that bus who only could guide me
> correctly where MECON Residency was. Maithils are sharp and
> so the are at every stage-even among in Class IV employees
> one can find a Jha leader in Jharkhand Secretariat once a
> Deputy secretary had told me.
>
> I found whole atmosphere as hotche potch for our workers
> and made up my mind to work for their welfare through many
> innovative ways if I am elected. I told to a young person
> despite knowing that he campaigned for my opponent that I
> would redress his problem and so to other person while
> returning through that hostel as I know a president once
> elected remains president for all whether one had voted for
> him or not.
>
> Though despite two visits I could not meet all executives,
> I talked some on phone. Near to Ranchi people are more
> meshed in the politics of MEA there and at the same time are
> more perplexed over their difficult working condition.
>
> While going to Riverside there I witnessed a good hot
> exchange between driver and conductor over tiffin perk.
> Whole atmosphere is charged with such nuances. When I took
> off from the hostel at the T-crossing one car stopped and
> the driver gave me a lift for a tip and left me at Burnpur
> station. The window clerk asked the station- atrain
> Haldia-Asansol was waiting for me(in fact was stranded for a
> Bankura passenger crossing). I was at platform 7 and the
> monsoon had its knocking with my arrival(which usaully
> happens as I am born on a Trayodashi and if I feel too much
> hot and humid there will be b the Grace of God, rains even
> without clouds!).
>
>
>
> I went outside to search some food items but there was no
> shop. After some distance I found a mango vender and took
> three for Rs.6 only.
>
> I came inside station and observed some hot exchange on
> enquiry though I was not in queue knowing well my train
> Vanachal Express was after 2-3 hours.
>
> When I entered main gate and was willing to go for tape
> water, a young railway employee came out and I guessed that
> he was the employee who was irrtated on counter. Yes he was.
> I told him to maintain calm as our half of the countrymen
> can somehow sign and as migrant to other linguistic
> territory they are under pressure. I told him that if any
> passenger was putting his hands forcefully on the mike
> outsde still he should have maintained calm or would have
> asked security person and it was not proper for him to
> retaliate and said if I would have been his officer I would
> have made a reverse entry on his working though I remrked
> that his behaviour was out of frustration for that job
> though he might be more skilled which he accepted.
>
> That employee was in fact from Jagdishpur, Bhagalpur. After
> washing mangoes and eating again I saw him and asked his
> profile. He was MA(HIndi) and was planning for UPSC. I told
> him that such persons can hardly e successful for IAS if
> they would accept a low grade finding something in hand.
>
> And that was the cause of rush in all examinations. One
> should have estimation of his/her worth and persue for that.
> I told him the story of my Class XI days when father of my
> friend did not attest my marksheets knowing I was planning
> to apply for RMS Clerk rather he called me and asked if I
> had any financial problem where he could help me. He said
> joing a job will not make you prepare for higher goals in
> life.
>
>
>
>
>
> Asansol station is a big one and foot over bridges are made
> very beautifully designed(but without much thinking on
> stampede on rush). I watched many trains coming and going-
> all had rush, One boy going to Bokaro helped me though I got
> seats comfortably and returned Ranchi almost sleeping after
> one Bhimkay (obese) passenger from Katihar got down at
> Chandrapura. Owner of a shop, his daughter was about to join
> an engineering college at Chennai; his son was also studying
> there. The wife of that perspn was from Khagria who who was
> slim and I joked at her that she must have problems with him
> and so ask him not to eat more and walk upto Katihar from
> Gedabari daily(19 km).
>
> I got up at Ranchi and came to my residence, Shyamali, in
> fact named after."Shyamoli,", the residence of
> Gurude Rabidra at Shantiniketan,,a student of which Shilpa
> Bishwas had I seen in local train to Burddhaman.. Shilpa was
> from Chatgram(bangfladesh) and she told me that still there
> were large number of Hindus. I told her that I knew only
> Shilpa Shetty and shilpa Bindi. She was in a 10 year course
> of Ph D(after class 10) in Dabce and Music and was
> interested in Rabindra sageet. She was knowing Mastrada
> Suryasen and Preetilate Woddar. She had come some distance
> by flight and then by train and had entered in the same
> copartment (of vendors I had entered inknowingly) and that
> was a 'smoking cahmber' with biris and so I changed
> after two-three stations but she did not(may be provoked by
> venders not to with unknown man like me though she had also
> been agreed and I might have helped in transferring her
> baggages as I had little.
>
> The suburban train of Kolkata have plenty of food materials
> at low cost, I ate pani-malai particulrly, three times for
> Rs.3 each becuase it was a hot afternoon though I had banans
> and guava also and surely those were tasty particularly
> after a fast since morning(and after a well received
> lecture, less on MECON and more on Bengal and nation) at
> Kolkata where I was on my insisted questioning could have
> only one why to raise age 62 for retirement at the same
> stroke I was saying any organisation should have one third
> new faces and one third retained. He could not grasp that I
> told so for a committee , for age of retirement will be
> common to all,even youngers will have that benifit. This
> morning I listened on the BBC on this issue- it already 62
> in France and many other countries however some have 60 and
> 65 for females and males too!
>
> Though eastern part of offices are still like Bokaro,
> Rourkela to describe, here I take a break to meet my
> voters..
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
XXI Maithili Camp held by swift shifting the venue from Shardapuri (Mahammadpur) to Akaur ; Kameshwar Yadav’s proved Maithili is the befitting reply
XXI Maithili Camp held by swift shifting the venue from Shardapuri (Mahammadpur) to Akaur ; Kameshwar Yadav’s proved Maithili is the befitting reply to caste dividers in Mithila
Amidst the typical Maithil personality of of postponing XXI Maithili Workers’ Training Camp held successfully by swift shifting the venue from Shardapuri (Mahammadpur) to Akaur and Kameshwar Yadav’s deep involvement proved Maithili is the befitting reply to caste dividers in Mithila
As reported finally from Akaur (Benipatti, Madhubani), 33 Maithili workers’ were awarded certificates and persons from nearby villages Manpaur’s Nawal Kishor Jha, an old Amp worker and also from Dumra asked for holding camps in their villages . Nagendra Mishra of Akaur took keen interest and Kameshwar Yadav’s deep involvement once again proved Maithili is the befitting reply to caste dividers. Amidst the typical Maithil personality of non-responsibility of postponing XXI Maithili workers’ Training camp held successfully by swift shifting the venue to Akaur
At Patna,I could get train for Madhubani by chance as intercity was 5 minutes late (and my train was more than 45 minutes late of the margin in two trains).
An old man, Bihari Mandal ,whom first I thought6 a BRAHMIN was going to Nirmali where his village Narendrapur was, he was very happy to read the pamphlet of Mithila. He was villager of a BJP whole-timer Satish Jha whom I know for many decades.
Sri Mandal's son S . N. Mandal was a doctor in the SGPGI, Lucknow.
Other little girl, Gousia Hashami, impressed me for her memory of 10 digit mobile- a class I student of Rhyne Academy of Jamshedpur, was going to her maternal grand-parents' home Baurar near Mahammadpur..Her paternal place was near Hayaghat where they were related to my school friend Mustaque.
I gave my number to her mother for any help to the bright Gousia whose father had lost his life in a gall bladder operation.
My sister’s son, Guddu, joined me at Sakri. At Madhubani came Ramesh Kamat with his friend and we proceeded for Benipatti. At Rahika we changed the minibus the conductor took from me Rs.10 each instead of 5..knowing me an outsider.
When I stepped at Lohia Chowk, I saw the same Bhav Jha who had refused the Maithili workers’ training camp at the last moment,barely 48 hours before on the pretext of going to Delhi for his grand-daughter’s negation(though I was amazed later as to how negotiation will be done in Bhadwa and that too in malmas?). This is the typical Maithil mentality of postponing that I am fighting for long. I had insisted that the camp should be organized by some other as many persons have planned for that but he was not ready and on my insistence he told me that he would not work with AMP. I immediately talked with nearby Akaur’s kameshwar yadav who happily agreed and when I wanted to inform this to him he did not like to receive my call- other typical maithil habit and I had to SMS him.
I had many files made on the name of Shardapuri(Mahammadpur) and though I hjad Xeroxes of a piece after correcting them for Akaur,I had kept one uncorrected which I had thought to send him through some person but lo! He was himself present there to receive that and I presented that him hastily.
In fact he and his villagers had lost an opportunity of having a camp there with Dr. Kamalkant Jha like scholar and also on the 8th may 2009 the idos of Sharda, kalika(and Vishnu or Laxmi) were unearthed and hence it was an anniversary which could have publicized the thing !
Though I had also contacted another person of Lohia Chowk, Anil Jha for a meeting at Bennpatti since 2 days and till Dhakjari few minutes before he was in contact, he also was not present at his shop?- Yet again. A typical Maithil personality of non-responsibility.
The journalist Madan Jha of Hindustan came with other person Kamal Narayan jha who took me to nearby PNB and we had a nukkad sabha- the news and photo appeared today(and seeing that one Maithili worker phoned me as to why he was not informed-not that he would have liked me rather in a tone as to why the AMP was working there when his organisation has intended to work nationwide, again a mentality--If I do not work or even work why you are working and that too in my area...
All existing Maithili organisations have this mentality ; they want to take up whole Mithila but have hardly worked in the town or district where they are located and if AMP is working with a plan why we are working..
Binod Thaklur of Tyotha recognised me and Pawan of Damodarpur living at Jamshedpur was also incidentally there and I could get a seat in an Akaur-bound magic.
A person was taking long time to give a name of widow for Annpurna/Antyodaya scheme to mukhia/Mukhiapati. I gave a paper and pen to write name immediately and to give rather prolonging talk.
At Akaur already training camp was inaugurated by Dr KK jha, president, AMP and Ratnesh was there. I took sessions till late night.
Kameshwar Yadav the convener was very active and camp had a successful beginning..
In rainbasera we slept after delicious food.
One youth was very energetic on Mithila Flag and said he was Garam dali and would unfurl it on public places; he later assisted me in file preparations till late night.
In morning, I had my bath and puja in historical temple of Akaur where idols were broken by foreigners in 1326 probably when Mithla was demolished by Giyasuddin Tugalaque.
I could get a bus at petrol pump and then Madhubani and next bus for Darbhanga and then next to Patna I could reach amid Kisan Mahapanmchay's boleros(?) in thousands(?) and went straightway to Maithili teachers’ assembled at the Arvindo college(after a long walk in heat ,also misguided for some time for not proper address; 5 minutes address by me was liked by maany. hey formed Maithili Shikshak Sangh also.
When I came out one teacher from Munger met me on the road when I was waiting fo9r Rana Mukherjee to come. The teacher who had listened to me in the hall took responsibility of organising AMP in Munger.
Rana, a software engineer had loved a girl of same mohalla of Kolkata of same caste and had eloped and married also in the temple but his parents were reluctant to accept him for they were greedy of dowry. He was known to me when he was attached to HCL at ranchi and used to come to check my computer. We were on mails even when he was at Khargpur and I at Bangalore. I had decided to bless the couple when informed me the events..
But first we went to Maithili’s only book centre- Shardindu's Shekhar Prakashan, near station’s Popular Pharma. Many writers of Maithili were there to listen to Udayshankar Mishra's proposal for helping him in staging a dhana on 22nd May for Mithila state.
Rohini Raman Jha accepted AMP's convenorship for Patna.
At Rana's house, his wife had made so many dishes on Ekadashi day.. without onions. I ate too much. Rana left me at station at 21.39 and I ran to the platform 9 to catch the train departing at 21.45 . The train was entering when I was on foot over bridge and and it started only after 2-3 minutes I was on my berth.
I was awoke almost whole night as costly camera was in my bag but I , a novice had taken all pictures in in MOVIE MODE AND THAT TOO WITHOUT flash in night and barring DARBHANGA'S name inh Tirhuta or Mithilakshar in the BOTTOM ALL all other were spoiled of benipatti and akaur meetings but RANA AND KOKILA'S photo was good.
(I learnt some photography at a friend’s house on 10th night) I Came to duty directly leaving late train at Namkom and then had a Saubhaggya Mithila's interview in the afternoon.. one eminent writer Amarji had said against Mithila Rajya.. I replied that many old persons liked British Raj but India gained Independence.
Mithila movement will go ahead from Ranchi to Akaur to Patna to Delhi and it will make India stronger and more nationist any Maithili than he/she may feel as Bihari.
Dr. Dhanakar Thakur
Spokesman,
Antarrashtriya Maithili Parishad
Amidst the typical Maithil personality of of postponing XXI Maithili Workers’ Training Camp held successfully by swift shifting the venue from Shardapuri (Mahammadpur) to Akaur and Kameshwar Yadav’s deep involvement proved Maithili is the befitting reply to caste dividers in Mithila
As reported finally from Akaur (Benipatti, Madhubani), 33 Maithili workers’ were awarded certificates and persons from nearby villages Manpaur’s Nawal Kishor Jha, an old Amp worker and also from Dumra asked for holding camps in their villages . Nagendra Mishra of Akaur took keen interest and Kameshwar Yadav’s deep involvement once again proved Maithili is the befitting reply to caste dividers. Amidst the typical Maithil personality of non-responsibility of postponing XXI Maithili workers’ Training camp held successfully by swift shifting the venue to Akaur
At Patna,I could get train for Madhubani by chance as intercity was 5 minutes late (and my train was more than 45 minutes late of the margin in two trains).
An old man, Bihari Mandal ,whom first I thought6 a BRAHMIN was going to Nirmali where his village Narendrapur was, he was very happy to read the pamphlet of Mithila. He was villager of a BJP whole-timer Satish Jha whom I know for many decades.
Sri Mandal's son S . N. Mandal was a doctor in the SGPGI, Lucknow.
Other little girl, Gousia Hashami, impressed me for her memory of 10 digit mobile- a class I student of Rhyne Academy of Jamshedpur, was going to her maternal grand-parents' home Baurar near Mahammadpur..Her paternal place was near Hayaghat where they were related to my school friend Mustaque.
I gave my number to her mother for any help to the bright Gousia whose father had lost his life in a gall bladder operation.
My sister’s son, Guddu, joined me at Sakri. At Madhubani came Ramesh Kamat with his friend and we proceeded for Benipatti. At Rahika we changed the minibus the conductor took from me Rs.10 each instead of 5..knowing me an outsider.
When I stepped at Lohia Chowk, I saw the same Bhav Jha who had refused the Maithili workers’ training camp at the last moment,barely 48 hours before on the pretext of going to Delhi for his grand-daughter’s negation(though I was amazed later as to how negotiation will be done in Bhadwa and that too in malmas?). This is the typical Maithil mentality of postponing that I am fighting for long. I had insisted that the camp should be organized by some other as many persons have planned for that but he was not ready and on my insistence he told me that he would not work with AMP. I immediately talked with nearby Akaur’s kameshwar yadav who happily agreed and when I wanted to inform this to him he did not like to receive my call- other typical maithil habit and I had to SMS him.
I had many files made on the name of Shardapuri(Mahammadpur) and though I hjad Xeroxes of a piece after correcting them for Akaur,I had kept one uncorrected which I had thought to send him through some person but lo! He was himself present there to receive that and I presented that him hastily.
In fact he and his villagers had lost an opportunity of having a camp there with Dr. Kamalkant Jha like scholar and also on the 8th may 2009 the idos of Sharda, kalika(and Vishnu or Laxmi) were unearthed and hence it was an anniversary which could have publicized the thing !
Though I had also contacted another person of Lohia Chowk, Anil Jha for a meeting at Bennpatti since 2 days and till Dhakjari few minutes before he was in contact, he also was not present at his shop?- Yet again. A typical Maithil personality of non-responsibility.
The journalist Madan Jha of Hindustan came with other person Kamal Narayan jha who took me to nearby PNB and we had a nukkad sabha- the news and photo appeared today(and seeing that one Maithili worker phoned me as to why he was not informed-not that he would have liked me rather in a tone as to why the AMP was working there when his organisation has intended to work nationwide, again a mentality--If I do not work or even work why you are working and that too in my area...
All existing Maithili organisations have this mentality ; they want to take up whole Mithila but have hardly worked in the town or district where they are located and if AMP is working with a plan why we are working..
Binod Thaklur of Tyotha recognised me and Pawan of Damodarpur living at Jamshedpur was also incidentally there and I could get a seat in an Akaur-bound magic.
A person was taking long time to give a name of widow for Annpurna/Antyodaya scheme to mukhia/Mukhiapati. I gave a paper and pen to write name immediately and to give rather prolonging talk.
At Akaur already training camp was inaugurated by Dr KK jha, president, AMP and Ratnesh was there. I took sessions till late night.
Kameshwar Yadav the convener was very active and camp had a successful beginning..
In rainbasera we slept after delicious food.
One youth was very energetic on Mithila Flag and said he was Garam dali and would unfurl it on public places; he later assisted me in file preparations till late night.
In morning, I had my bath and puja in historical temple of Akaur where idols were broken by foreigners in 1326 probably when Mithla was demolished by Giyasuddin Tugalaque.
I could get a bus at petrol pump and then Madhubani and next bus for Darbhanga and then next to Patna I could reach amid Kisan Mahapanmchay's boleros(?) in thousands(?) and went straightway to Maithili teachers’ assembled at the Arvindo college(after a long walk in heat ,also misguided for some time for not proper address; 5 minutes address by me was liked by maany. hey formed Maithili Shikshak Sangh also.
When I came out one teacher from Munger met me on the road when I was waiting fo9r Rana Mukherjee to come. The teacher who had listened to me in the hall took responsibility of organising AMP in Munger.
Rana, a software engineer had loved a girl of same mohalla of Kolkata of same caste and had eloped and married also in the temple but his parents were reluctant to accept him for they were greedy of dowry. He was known to me when he was attached to HCL at ranchi and used to come to check my computer. We were on mails even when he was at Khargpur and I at Bangalore. I had decided to bless the couple when informed me the events..
But first we went to Maithili’s only book centre- Shardindu's Shekhar Prakashan, near station’s Popular Pharma. Many writers of Maithili were there to listen to Udayshankar Mishra's proposal for helping him in staging a dhana on 22nd May for Mithila state.
Rohini Raman Jha accepted AMP's convenorship for Patna.
At Rana's house, his wife had made so many dishes on Ekadashi day.. without onions. I ate too much. Rana left me at station at 21.39 and I ran to the platform 9 to catch the train departing at 21.45 . The train was entering when I was on foot over bridge and and it started only after 2-3 minutes I was on my berth.
I was awoke almost whole night as costly camera was in my bag but I , a novice had taken all pictures in in MOVIE MODE AND THAT TOO WITHOUT flash in night and barring DARBHANGA'S name inh Tirhuta or Mithilakshar in the BOTTOM ALL all other were spoiled of benipatti and akaur meetings but RANA AND KOKILA'S photo was good.
(I learnt some photography at a friend’s house on 10th night) I Came to duty directly leaving late train at Namkom and then had a Saubhaggya Mithila's interview in the afternoon.. one eminent writer Amarji had said against Mithila Rajya.. I replied that many old persons liked British Raj but India gained Independence.
Mithila movement will go ahead from Ranchi to Akaur to Patna to Delhi and it will make India stronger and more nationist any Maithili than he/she may feel as Bihari.
Dr. Dhanakar Thakur
Spokesman,
Antarrashtriya Maithili Parishad
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