Thursday, August 4, 2016

Chanakya Litun

It was not really like Rahul leaving inherited reaches opting for rags, but for me a home coming by opting for a sleeper class travel in Indian Railway from Secunderabad to Bhubaneshwar on my way to village in the last summer vacation. I chose to meet the reality around me with authenticity. Falaknuma train is true for this being a carrier for unskilled labourers from eastern states mainly  Odisha, Bihar and Bengal. I met many. And decided to make them to life by my MoKatha series. Here is one on Litun Manala, a labour contractor engaged in supplying cheap migrant labour (mainly Bangladeshi ones) to Mao-infested parts of Odisha. Interestingly this illiterate man with no formal degree came out with surprise with his vast knowledge on international affairs and India's stakes in it. His elaboration on that day was on India, NSG and evolving international scenarios. 
My realisation: never look for a degree or a  stereo  look for gyan with a person - That makes India and  Indian Mahan !

[ This column on Nirvaya newspaper on 3rd August 2016 ]


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

ଏମିତିକା ଲିଟୁନ୍ ଆମ ଦେଶରେ ବହୁତ ଅଛନ୍ତି । ପାଠ ଯେ ଆମକୁ ବହୁତ ଜ୍ଞାନୀ କରିଦିଏ, ଏକଥା ସବୁବେଳେ ଠିକ୍ ନୁହେଁ । ଖୁବ୍ କମ୍ ପାଠ ପଢି ମୋ ଜେଜେବାପା ମତେ ଯେଉଁ ଜ୍ଞାନ ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି, ତାହା ଭୁଲିବାର ନୁହେଁ । କଲିକତାର ବଡବଜାରରେ ଜଣେ ପଇଡବିକାଳି ପାଖରୁ ଥରେ ମୁଁ ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ର ବିଷୟରେ ଯାହା ଶୁଣିଥିଲି, ତାହା ଏବେ ବି ମନେ ରଖିଛି । ସେ କହିଲା, ରାଜତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓ ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ର ଭିତରେ କୌଣସି ଫରକ ନାହିଁ । ଯଦି ଭଲ ଲୋକ ହାତରେ ପଡିଲା, ଉଭୟ ଭଲ । ଖରାପ ଲୋକ ହାତରେ ପଡିଲେ ଉଭୟ ଖରାପ । ତେବେ ରାଜତନ୍ତ୍ରରେ ଭଲ ରାଜା ମିଳିବାର ସମ୍ଭାବନା ଅଛି, କିନ୍ତୁ ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ରରେ ତାହା ସ୍ଵପ୍ନ, କାରଣ ଏହା ବାରଭାଇ ଆଖେଡା ପରି ।

ଲିଟୁନ୍ ପରି ଘଟଣା ଆମ ସାମନାରେ ପ୍ରାୟ ଘଟେ ରେଳ, ବସ୍ ଆଉ ଜାହାଜରେ । ଆମେ ଦେଖୁ, ପୁଣି ଭୁଲିଯାଉ । କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ଘଟଣାକୁ କେଡେ ସୁନ୍ଦର ବର୍ଣନା କରିଛନ୍ତି ଆପଣ !! ତା ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ଲେଖାଟିର ନାମକରଣ ମଧ୍ୟ ବଢିଆ ହେଇଚି । ନାଆଁଟି ପଢିଦେଲେ ଜଣା ପଡୁଚି ଏକ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଲେଖା ହେଇଥିବ ।

ଆପଣ ଏମିତି ଲେଖୁଥାନ୍ତୁ... ଆମକୁ ଆନନ୍ଦ ଦେଉଥାନ୍ତୁ ।

Anonymous said...

Bahut sundar lekha sabu lekhuchhanti Sir Pray sabu padhuchhi Lekhanire Puspa barashu

Anonymous said...

Yes! Sir, I m completely agree with your realization. I had one such experience more than a decade ago, when an illiterate person in a Passenger Train (A train connecting two cities, and stops at every station on the way) not only quoted DOHA of KABIR but also explained beautifully. Within minutes he was the focus of around 10-20 people in the train, while half of them were competitor for CIVIL services (At least graduate). I have never found a single person who I may count nearer to him in the way he quoted and explained. An impression he has made that I remember that event even today after nearly more than 15 years

Anonymous said...

Sir, column is very interesting . Good thing is that this is authentic . I Like Rahul many others from rural area which are working at different places , metro cities . They discuss about regional/national/international topic like they are expert in those topic. I know some person they are working in some where near by KATEDHAN, HYderabad.....

Anonymous said...

The heading is very interesting.We have so many Litun chanakyas in our society.I have one in my house as my cook.She is 5th fail,but her knowledge about mankind and family is superb.

Anonymous said...

You portrayed a beautiful character in the story.. They are found in plenty in India .. Facebook itself has an unbelievable number. Inbetween you have given a soft pinch to a persisting peoblem .. Bangladeshi refugees... Loved reading

Anonymous said...

ଵଢିଆ ।