ONE NIGHT @ BAKRESHWAR

there have been so many times that i have wondered as to why i do not give up this rat race and go settle down to do something infinitely more peaceful, more meaningful and fulfilling, like working for the underprivileged children in the mountains or the remote villages of bengal. i guess thats just wishful thinking on my part because no matter how hard i try to fool myself, i am realist enough to understand that this rat race is all i know, its what i have been brought up to run and i will run no matter how much i dislike it. i would probably be lost among the men of the places where i yearn to be for its easier to be cunning than honest. anyways the one night i spent at bakreshwar highlighted two issues to me as clear as daylight. the first was the lack of actual government funding for the inner sanctums of bengal, leading to poverty, unemployment and crime. there were men standing in groups of 10-15 at corners just to ensure that cars were parked. if that many number of healthy men have no job other than parking a few cars over the period of the day, no wonder then there is an exodus of people towards the cities. if the bengal government chooses to ignore that fact then it does so at its own peril. bihar is a shining example of what good governance can do to a state. in the past 4 years it has become the beacon of hope that we have all beeen waiting for. it has a staggering growth rate of 11.03% in stark comparision to the rest of the country growing at 7.49%, and is second only to gujarat at 11.05%. if a state that has been languishing in apathy for so many years due to the negligence of its own sons can show such exceptional turn around in a matter of 4 years imagine what can be achieved over a much longer period through similar dedication.

its time we stopped shifting the blame and decided to own some responsibility at least.the states shift the blame to the centre and the centre to the states, the bureaucracy shifts the blame on the politica and the politica shift it on the bureaucracy. police look to armed forces to do their jobs and we all look to just earn a fat paycheck, and climb higher in that social circle. the economy has done wonders to our country. it has made a few businessmen the fattest cows in the country. almost all deals are made keeping their interests first. the middle class has really come of age and have a good life as of today and a chance to get into the next rung. its the poor however who are the real losers as little is ever done to assuage their needs. in bengal we have a saying, "tela mathay tel dewa". it means that everyone loves to oil the already oiled heads. however, enough of this cynicism. i cant help but think that at the end of the tunnel there has to be light, the people will realise in due time all the mistakes that are being committed. the dsamage to the climate will become more important than a few cash cows, the good of the masses will hold precedence over the best interests of the ambanis, and the people will see to it that no child goes hungry to bed and grows up illiterate.

bakreshwar as a place is really peaceful. like i mentioned in my last blog, it was the best of places where the bungalow was situated. when i climbed on the terrace, the view all around was breathtaking. there was no human habitation to be seen for most parts, only a few huts dotted the lanscape here and there. there was no noise, no pollution, no loud music and the air was like wine.i sad enchanted on the terrace until it got really dark. the greenery all around slowly dissolved as the sun went down and there was unmitigated darkness all around. however, a new sort of magic was already coming into play. you just had to look at the heavens and you would know why man in his primitive times looked to the heavens for all his answers. the night sky which under the brilliant lights of the mumbai skyline is almost non existent, foggy and uninspiring, regaled us in all its majesty in this little secluded place. the expanse was awe-inspiring to say the least and it seemed that infinite was just nothing until you witnessed this beauty. it was dotted with glittering stars which some ethereal seamstress had sewn on. it was like watching the grandest extravaganza of sorts and it took my breath away. my dad pointed out all the important stars and the constellations to me and i felt myself being transported back in my memories. when i was just a kid, our house was in a developing township called kalyani. it had hardly 3-4 houses as far as the eye could see and we used to take a farm cot out on the road and lie down to watch the night sky. dad used to identify all the important stars and constellations for me as i would lie, my head on my moms soft belly. it was like the years had been swept away with a casual flick of a magicians wand and i was till that kid watching that magnanimous night sky.

the coconut and date groves fanned a cold biting wind which seemed to suit the mood just right. small teemimg lights here and there on the horizon seemed bewitching and it felt like we had all been transported to some other age, some other world. we went out later in the night to have a look at the local market. i must mention here that my mom got some great deals in leather, wooden and other handicrafts, plus, we also had some pickle and decided to buy some more. when we came back we found out that my adventurous brother had cooked up a hare brained scheme. he wanted to roast a whole chicken over the fire and then have it. turned out that it wasnt that bad an idea. we got a rooster, some spices, cooking oil, an iron rod, leaves to burn and later that night we were sitting in front of a fire and having chapattis with chicken and potatoes and brinjal. it was just the sort of thing we should have had in such a place and the night was rendered more romantic by the appeal of the burnt chicken.

the next morning we had a bath in the hot water springs of bakreshwar. the water was hot and really served to unlock the joints which seemed to have frozen in the cold. even as we sat there with our necks immmersed in the hot water, there was a feeling of achievement. right after our bath we packed our things and set off for shantiniketan. there was to be only one stop on our way and it wa to be tantipara. the place where all the weavers of that area worked. they produce what is famous as bengal tashar silk, and yet, once again. what struck me was the abject poverty of these skilled workers. skilled workforce all over the world are supposed to be paid their weight in gold, but not here. they produce clothes of such exquisite beauty yet, they hardly earn much benefits. every single house had a loom, and they were all sitting and patiently working away at those looms. we bought quite a few of their handiwork from the village. at around 3 in the aftrenoon we reached shantiniketan. more on the shantiniketan story tomorrow.

as i was writing about the hot water springs, i remembered something quirky about women. although there was a sign there that said no women allowed, quite a few cam down to the men's side. besides, there were quite a few unanbashed women roaming on the side walk next to the men's side. now what does this tell you? the women had obviously come to dry their sons or watch that they dont dron in that 3 feet deep water. but no matter what the excuse is, would a man be let off if he wandered into the women's side? does this not stink of dual principles in the society? women have more shame than men, so dont watch them take a bath, yet they are shameless enough to enter the men's side? i have seen the same thing happen in aquatica in kolkata. the women and girls entered the men's changing rooms as if it were a free for all walkway. now for a pervert like me its welcome news that they wanna watch us. but arent there any self righteous men, who feel embarrassed? or are we all equally shameless?