The Village diary...(Part 2)

I looked at my watch it was about 12 noon yet there was so much calm here. I got the mixed feeling in my heart. It has been about 6 months since I visited home. Crossing the road seemed easier as traffic chaos was missing of big city. Everyone seems to be familiar face in the small town.

Usually form road to my home the distance is of about 1.5 Km. either my dad or Jija ji used to pic me up from the outside of the Village. This time it was different as I have decided to give surprise to all of them by reaching on my own. Nobody knew about my arrival apart from my Sister. While walking to the side of road I can see the difference in the village. The biggest change I have seen was to see lots of educational institute around my village. Well from engineering to management and even law college is now in walking distance of village. It feels strange to see these things happen in outside of my village. This was the same village where not a single school used to be there apart from Madarsa (It is place where Muslim student take education usually of religion and also now days it turn out to be full school with all facilities).

I and my sister used to go At least 25 KM for our college and even to 35 KM daily (Don’t think we used to walk that much. We used to take public transport). I had a luxury of bike when I was in college but my elder sisters used to go by public transport. This thing seems to have so little relevance today but it taught me so many things. I never complained in my life that I live in village so I will not be able to that or I am this because of that. Education is one thing only which can change the life and dynamics of villages. Nobody in village used to go to college from here till my sister first started it (I am biased toward praising her). People used to stay either in city or do it by correspondence. She was the one who gone against the trend and started the new trend. Nobody will remember her as first lady to be Graduate from his generation but she broke the barriers that were there in the village. Girls can study and even the higher studies. Well matter of fact in my village girl’s ratio of Graduate is higher than the boys. Maybe because they all know how hard they have to work to go for the education. It could not have been possible if two main points where not there:

College fees: It is quite less compare to what all big college charge to student. I graduated from Allahabad University in less than 5,000 Rs. And it is combines fees of all three years. It gives them option of dreaming that they can also take the education.

College status: Co College may be in trend in big city but if you go in small city there you find all girls and all boys colleges. Well it might be seemed backward to people here in big city. This is only hope for lots of girls whose parents might not allow them to go for college if it is Co College. This is truth but who cares if we can educate one generation we hope next will be more liberal and free in his/her thoughts.

I received the best education that my family can provide me. But when I see there are talented child’s out there but they can’t do anything. They don’t know what to do with life.

Well moving on I just imagined how things can be changed with little effort but will be helpful. I have seen city grow and villages turn into city just because of this education industry. I Hope same will happen with my village. Someday we might get to know it as a education hub of Allahabad.

A noise broke my thoughts. It was horn of car. Well I have given them way as I was walking in the middle of the road. Well walking carrying a big bag filled with all dirty cloth was not easy. I was smiling at every change I can notice. From trees to new homes in the village, new holes in the road and yet it seemed so much the same old like nothing has changed since I was the kid.

P.S.: Well education is one thing which can change your life. Even my grandmother used to take classes from me when I was in school. If she can try I think ever body can. She can write her name in Hindi and English yet she has not seen the face of school (only time she was in school to listen my compliant from teachers).

 By:  Saifi Shahid

The village diary…. (Part 1)

Well usually I write about lots of my current life and lot about my friend life in this blog. When I was at my home in small village in Allahabad I decided to write about that place from where I belong to and where my roots are. The village diary is a collection of my small memories about my village and life over there, which made me what I am today.

My village is almost 25 KM away from main city of Allahabad. The Village name as HATWA, I don’t know about the story behind the name of my village but I found that name unusual. If you will try to find my village even on Google map, it will be really hard because it does not show over there. Well my village has nothing especial to talk to about. Nor we have any special monuments or nor village has any special talent to talk about but yes if I can say something about my village it has some pure heart people living over there. It is located around somewhat 1.5 KM away from the main road, and to reach my home from main road either take a long walk or have your own vehicle.

Well the road, it has not been repaired for almost a decade. Last time I saw the road to be repaired was when I was in school. This time when I saw the road it has more holes in the road then in the field. And yet nobody ever complained about it. I was about to land in my hometown Allahabad in the railways station and it was little bit weird feeling that how long has been away from the city and yet it seemed like the same. One famous poet said about Allahabad that if you put one basket of fruits in the street of Allahabad and after one year you will find that fruit basket in the same place because this city never changes. Well that was about 50 year ago; only thing that not changed in the city from that time was city name and Sangam.

I walked outside of the railway station from Platform No. 1 to take auto or tempo to reach home. Well if you don’t know Tempo is other name of Shared auto. Allahabad has not changed much I can think on my mind. It was same crowd, people talking to each other about politics even though they might not know each other apart from taking a sip of tea with each other in a shop. Every one asking me about me what I need tempo or taxi, It puzzled me because being lived in Allahabad for so long it was strange to be asked for auto and taxi. I responded in a confused state of mind, “Sorry I don’t need that”. I was looking for the tempo stand from where I can find the right transportation for my home and that to in cheaper way. Well who mind to travel 20 KM in shared auto and that to in 10 bucks? Well surely I don’t.

Some pan shop wala helped me to know from where I can find the auto for my destination. In Allahabad if have to ask for a route usually I ask the Pan wale Bhaiya because they are the best resource to get the right information. For me there were few more surprises over there. The entire autos were standing in the straight line and in arranger manner. It was new thing for me as they never used to stand still few months back and more so fight with each other for getting more and more passengers. But this time they all have formed a union or something in which they all get to take passengers by their number. It helps them to at least make sure all of them get proper business at the end of day. I got myself in the auto which was about to leave and have seat for two passengers. I decided to sit in the right of the driver this was only place where seat was available. This was only my second auto ride in Allahabad in last 7 years. After school my Mom gifted me bike, so I never ever traveled with auto or public transport after that.

From my past experience in Allahabad and what I have heard from my Sis on phone that it will not be easy ride because of two reasons. One was that I was sitting in auto and second was the roads of Allahabad are not in a good condition at this time. My journey started in next 5 min. and it was new experience for me. I was looking after the every change I can notice in the city whether it was in the color of the city or the traffic chaose or the new building and the new shops that I could see. Well for me the journey was getting better and better but not for others. They started complaining to the driver about the slow driving and he could only say, “ Sahab dheeme chalaoob tabhoo log kahaiye aur tej chaloob to jeka lagi osse mar kaaab. Humka to adat ho gaiyi hai, tabhai to itni tej gana chalait hai hum”. He was seemed to big fan of Bhojpuri song and that to Nirhuwa rikshawala. For a change I was aslo enjoying that song.

He asked me again, “Sahab aap naye ho ka sahar ma ki bahut dinawa baad laute ho”. I could only give only slight smile to him and replied. “Nahi humao yahi ke rahe wale hai par aaj kaal bahar raahat hai kaam se”. He was more that amazed to see that I too can speak this language which I think he was not expecting from me. 

“Sahab aapho bahut achi bolat ho apni bhasaa, chala bahar raahat ho par apan bhasa to bol leet ho”. I was faltered by his compliment and by the time I reached to my destination I could say to him, “Bhaiyaa tohar ganwa humka bahut acha laag baa, kehke tu sunat rahoo ba aur paisai kitna bha ihya tak ke”. Now that was the finest I can speak this language.

“Paisa to 10 rupiya bha Sahab aur ganaa to niruhawa ka raha, tohka to kahoo b mil jai”. He said in cheerful voice. I was just thinking well I can get some of these songs from Raj bhaiya but thinking about hearing this song in our room was just not the option I can think off. I gave the amount to bhaiya and just started to my journey to home and I am still 1.5 Km and small distance away from my home.

 P.S.: Well being in village always help you to learn without all the Gadgets. As Electricity is found only for hours over there.