Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!(147)

Those days there were no other entertainments for common people. Rich people did have Radio and in towns there were cinema halls too but going to cinema halls was not considered good.This way for everyone only spending time was to do his own work. Farmers do farming, Shop keepers do selling, tailors do stitching and the middle class or poor women were doing their house hold works on their own. Cooking , cleaning, washing clothes, cleaning utensils etc. In Rich families like zamindaar’s families these works were being done by the paid people. Entertainment was not there too. They used to play chaupad type of indoor games and children used to play Asht Chang pey ( being played by the dice made by tamarind seeds ( I had described in previous chapters) it was a very interesting game and liked by the children very much .Some people used to play Playing cards but it was also not considered good. Though after freedom education was promoted for girls but still it was not commonly supported by big part of people. And rich people like Chandan Singh Chaudhary hired Miss Samantha Jones as tuition teacher for his daughter Kavita Chaudhary. ———-Continued ——-

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!(146)

Those get together parties were grand and were organised on huge scale. In these parties the best dancers and singers used to be called from Benaras. These parties some times or we may say most of the times organised in huge tents fixed  out of the towns. Sometimes these were birthdays or weddings. In these celebrations Alcohol was unlimited and different types of foods were cooked by the expert cooks. All the ladies also have separate tents to live in and enjoy dance music and mehandi type of customs. One more interesting thing used to be worth watching was the dance of a mare with the band’s music. These celebrations used to be completed in five days. These days were full of fun for all the zamindars and their wives.It was either the British time period or just after the freedom time, both the times were inspiring for girls education too. Chandan Singh Chaudhary wanted his both the children to ge learned and so he sent his son Kalyan Singh to Doon School and appointed miss Samantha as tuition teacher for Kavita. She had passed privately eighth and then she was preparing for tenth which was called Matric those days. ————- Continued ————

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut! (145)

Kamini Devi was very beautiful and very soft by nature. She was always aware of the needs of the servant’s staff. Any one never needed to tell her anything.When Shamu came there he was an innocent child so she also took care of of him. For her Kavita and Shamu were of same age children and she always treated them equally. Chandan Singh Chaudhary was never taken much interest in house management. He was tall smart fair and handsome man. He was the landlord and so whenever he was on his ride village people who were his Praja used to keep their head down and hold their chappals in their hands as it was known as insult for the zamindar who was their king. These chappals were made of tires. Chandan Singh Chaudhary was earning good amount as Lagan no farmer denied or postponed his Lagan because of Chandan Chaudhary’s Personality. These zameendar were having good relationships with each other and used to meet in small and big functions with each other. ——— Continued—-

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!(144)

Shamu agreed he nodded his head, he could do anything for food, he was orphan, he was roofless homeless . Chandan Chaudhary looked at him and smiled he saddled the horse, and he saw Shamu started running with the horse. When he reached Haveli he got overwhelmed, he was taken to the Raja’s stable, the sais was introduced to him , he was asked to learn how to take care of Raja. He had to live there with the Sais in the small room attached to the stable. He will get food both the times clothes and some pocket money too. He again nodded his head. He was tired and exhausted after this first run. Shamu was liked by all servants as he was innocent and orphan. This way Shamu’s life’s new chapter started in Haveli. He being a small innocent boy was allowed to go inside the haveli. He used to do small works of Kamini Devi Kavita and even Chandan Singh Chaudhary. Later on a big Buggy was bought and kept in the back side of the haveli . Many times Raja was tied to it when the whole family had to attend any wedding or other function a little bit far from the haveli. Shamu was always a part of such visits as he was the caretaker of Raha and Sais already had gone after six months of Shamu’s training. ———- Continued———

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!(143)

I always seen Chandan  Singh Chaudhary Silent and grave at Haveli. He never talked much to Kavita mem Saab or Kalyan Singh jee when everyone he used to be here on holidays but it doesn’t mean he was not loving them he loved them very much. In fact for him his family was the most prior thing. He never got angry at any servant. He was loving Kamini Devi very much sometimes this was noticeable by all of us. Over all it was a very happy family. He was very fond of riding and so he bought that Tall white Arabian hirse and named him Raja. I garden’s one part he made a stable for him.In the beginning a Sais was appointed who cam with the horse for his care. One day when Chaudhary Ji was riding towards his lands on the way he saw Shamu was crying under a tree ,he was ten to twelve years dark but sharp featured healthy boy. Chaudhary Ji stopped the horse and asked him “ why is he crying ? “ he said he was alone in the world and do begging . Chaudhary Ji asked him “ Would you come with me ? I will give food every day. ? He became happy. Chaudhary Ji said “ You will have to take care of this horse Raja and whenever I will ride you will have to run with Raja’s speed “ ———- Continued ——

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!(142)

He was looking at me , “ I requested , and described about my child without mother. “ he thought for some moments and then said okay, first you come here and live in a servant’s quarter then we’ll decide about your work. “ When I heard this I couldn’t stop myself and I fell in his feet he patted my back , I got up and took leave . I then came next day with my luggage . I got a room in back yard. I was asked to grow a beautiful garden around the Havel. I happily agreed .Chaudhary Ji said I can take money from Malkin whatever is needed for the garden. He said ,” You need not to worry about your child he will play here and there is no binding of working hours so you can take care of him along with your work. I understood. I need not to cook food or buy vegetables for kitchen because all servants were getting food from Chaudhary Ji’s kitchen . Next day onwards I started working for a beautiful garden , I used to take money from Malkin and always gave the paid bill of the amount to her. I bought some plant pots big and small , I pour some fertiliser on the clay around and in plant pots. Within six months the garden became so beautiful that Chaudhary Ji fixed some marble benches there and two tables too. Sometimes they had have their evening tea there. Lots of beautiful birds started coming there. Chaudhary Ji was happy with me and I was too very much relaxed there. ——- Continued ——

Dharm & Darshan !! Vande- Mataram !!

 हममें से बहुत से लोग शायद यह नहीं जानते होंगे कि कभी क्रिकेट के मैदान पर हुए झगड़े से *"वंदे मातरम"* की रचना हुई थी? लगभग 145 साल पहले, पश्चिम बंगाल के बरहमपुर में बैरक स्क्वायर (अब स्क्वायर फील्ड) ग्राउंड पर एक झगड़ा हुआ, जिससे बंकिम चंद्र चटर्जी को यह देशभक्ति गीत लिखने की प्रेरणा मिली। अगर ब्रिटिश कर्नल डफिन ने उस क्रिकेट मैच के दौरान बंकिम बाबू पर हमला न किया होता, तो शायद "वंदे मातरम" कभी नहीं लिखा जाता।

यह झगड़ा 1873 में बरहमपुर कैंटोनमेंट के कमांडिंग ऑफिसर कर्नल डफिन की लीडरशिप में हुए एक क्रिकेट मैच से शुरू हुआ था। 15 दिसंबर की शाम को, मुर्शिदाबाद जिले के उस समय के डिप्टी कलेक्टर बंकिम चंद्र चटर्जी अपनी पालकी में घर लौट रहे थे। उन्हें पता नहीं था कि पालकी उठाने वालों ने क्रिकेट ग्राउंड से एक शॉर्टकट ले लिया, जिससे खेल में रुकावट आई। गुस्से में कर्नल डफिन ने पालकी रोकी, बंकिम बाबू को घसीटकर बाहर निकाला और उन्हें चार-पांच बार घूंसे मारे।

 यह घटना कई जाने-माने लोगों के सामने हुई, जिनमें प्रिंसिपल रॉबर्ट हैंड, रेवरेंड बार्लो, जज बैनब्रिज, लालगोला के राजा जोगेंद्र नारायण रे, दुर्गाचरण भट्टाचार्य और कई दूसरे ब्रिटिश और भारतीय गणमान्य लोग शामिल थे।

बंकिम बाबू ने इस बेइज्जती के लिए इंसाफ मांगते हुए कोर्ट में केस किया। 16 दिसंबर, 1873 को उन्होंने मुर्शिदाबाद में डिस्ट्रिक्ट मजिस्ट्रेट मिस्टर विंटर की कोर्ट में कर्नल डफिन के खिलाफ शिकायत दर्ज कराई। गवाहों को बुलाया गया, लेकिन ज़्यादातर ब्रिटिश अधिकारियों ने इस घटना से इनकार किया। हालांकि, प्रिंसिपल रॉबर्ट हैंड, राजा जोगेंद्र नारायण रे और दुर्गाचरण भट्टाचार्य ने बंकिम बाबू के पक्ष में गवाही दी।

अगली सुनवाई 12 जनवरी, 1874 को तय की गई। उस सुबह, हजारों भारतीय और यूरोपियन दर्शक कोर्ट में जमा हुए। सुनवाई के दौरान, जज बैनब्रिज ने मजिस्ट्रेट को अपने चैंबर में बुलाया और बंकिम बाबू से केस वापस लेने का अनुरोध किया। शुरू में, उन्होंने मना कर दिया, लेकिन बाद में इस शर्त पर मान गए कि कर्नल डफिन सबके सामने माफी मांगें। आखिरकार, कर्नल डफिन ने कोर्ट में हाथ जोड़कर माफी मांगी। 

भारतीय युवा तालियों, हंसी और "हो-हो" के नारों से गूंज उठे। कोर्ट के फैसले से गुस्साए ब्रिटिश अधिकारियों ने चुपके से बंकिम बाबू की हत्या की योजना बनाई। यह जानकर, राजा जोगेंद्र नारायण रे ने बंकिम बाबू को लालगोला बुलाया, जहाँ वे जनवरी 1874 में बस गए।

लालगोला में, बंकिम बाबू ने जगद्धात्री, दुर्गा और काली मंदिरों के दर्शन किए। वहाँ, उन्होंने सोचा कि एक ही "मंत्र" से भारत को ब्रिटिश शासन के खिलाफ कैसे एकजुट किया जाए। *आखिरकार, 31 जनवरी, 1874 को माघी पूर्णिमा की रात को, उन्होंने 12 अक्षरों का "वंदे मातरम"* लिखा, जिससे भारतीयों में देशभक्ति की भावना जगी और अंग्रेजों में डर पैदा हो गया।

बाद में, उनके नॉवेल "आनंदमठ" के कुछ हिस्से 1881 में बंगदर्शन मैगज़ीन (Vol 7) में पब्लिश हुए, और पूरी किताब 1882 में रिलीज़ हुई। अंग्रेजों ने बंकिम बाबू पर नॉवेल का कंटेंट बदलने का दबाव डाला, जिसके कारण उन्होंने 1885-86 में सरकारी नौकरी से वॉलंटरी रिटायरमेंट ले लिया।

145 साल बाद भी, "वंदे मातरम" हममें देशभक्ति जगाता है!* यह घटना साबित करती है कि कैसे अपमान, इंसाफ़ की लड़ाई और आज़ादी की चाहत ने "वंदे मातरम" को जन्म दिया। आज भी यह गाना हमारे दिलों में देशभक्ति की लौ जलाता है। *वंदे मातरम!*