ଲାଠି ଯାହାର ମହିଷି ତାହାର

ଲାଠି ଯାହାର ମହିଷି ତାହାର



ଆଜି ସକାଳେ ମନ୍ଦିର ବଗିଚାରେ ବୁଲିବାବେଳେ ବନ୍ଧୁ ଗୋପାଳ ଶୁଖିଲା ହସରେ ମୋର ସ୍ୱାଗତ କରିବା ଦେଖି ମୁ ଭାବିଲି   ତାକୁ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରିବାପାଇଁ  ମୋର କାଲିର  ପ୍ରୟାସ ସଫଳ ହେଇନାହିଁ | କିନ୍ତୁ କିଛିସମୟ ପରେ ଜାଣିଲି ତା' ଉଦାସୀନତାର କାରଣ ଭିନ୍ନ ଥିଲା | ସମ୍ପୃକ୍ତ ରାଜକର୍ମଚାରୀ ମାନେ ଗତକାଲିର  ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ତାକୁ ବୁଝାଇଥିଲେ | କହିଲେ " ୟୁଜର ଚାର୍ଜ ସହରର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ଲୋକମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦେଲେଣି | ଯେଉଁ କେତେଜଣ କୋଟ ଯାଇଥିଲେ ଆମେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ବୁଝାଇବା ପରେ ସେମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ  କୋଟରୁ କେସ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟାହାର କରିଦେଇଛନ୍ତି | ତେଣୁ ଆପଣ ମଧ୍ୟ ୟୁଜର ଚାର୍ଜ ଦେଇଦିଅନ୍ତୁ |" ଆମ ପ୍ରଚଳିତ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାର ଏହି ମାନସିକତା ଗୋପାଳକୁ ବିବ୍ରତ କରିଛି ଏବଂ ସେଇଥିପାଇଁ ସେ ମୋ ପାଖରେ ଫେରାଦି କରୁଛି | ସେ ଜାଣିଚି ମୁ ମଧ୍ୟ " ଦଶ ତୁଣ୍ଡରେ ଛେଳି କୁକୁର" ନ୍ୟାୟରେ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରେନି |  କୌଣସି ଟିକସ ପରିମାଣ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ  ସ୍ୱଳ୍ପ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯଦି ସମ୍ବିଧାନ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାର ପରିପନ୍ଥୀ ହୋଇଥାଏ ତାହା ଦେବା ପାଇଁ ତାର ବିବେକ କୁଣ୍ଠାବୋଧ କରୁଥିବା ମୁଁ ଅନୁଭବ କଲି | ଏହି ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗରେ ରଫାଦଫାର ସ୍ଥାନ ନାହିଁ | କିନ୍ତୁ କଣ କରାଯିବ ? ପାଣିରେ ରହି କୁମ୍ଭୀର ସହିତ ଶତ୍ରୁତା କେମିତି କରିହବ ? ଏହି ଦ୍ଵନ୍ଦଦ୍ୱାରା  ଆଜି ଆମ ଦୁଇଜଣ ଆକ୍ରାନ୍ତ ହୋଇଥିଲୁ | ସେ ମୋତେ ଗୋଟିଏ ଛୋଟ ଗପ ଶୁଣାଇଲା | କହିଲା " ଆମ ଗାଁର ହରିହରକୁ ଦିନେ ତା ପୁଅ ପରୀକ୍ଷାରେ କେମିତି କରିଥିବା ପଚାରିଲି | ହରିହର କହିଲା ସେ ଫେଲ ହେଇଚି | କାରଣ ପଚାରିଲି | ସେ କହିଲା ତା ପୁଅ ଯଦି ପରୀକ୍ଷାରେ ବାପା ଜାଗାରେ ମାମୁ ଲେଖିଥାନ୍ତା ମାଷ୍ଟର ତାକୁ ପାସ ନମ୍ବର ଦେଇଥାନ୍ତା : କିନ୍ତୁ ତା ପୁଅ ଏତେ ବଦମାସ ଯେ ସେ ବାପ ଜାଗାରେ ଭିଣେଇ ଲେଖିଲା | ମାଷ୍ଟର ତାକୁ ଶୂନ ଦବନି ?" ମୁଁ ଏହି ଗପର ତାତ୍ପର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପଚାରିଲି | ସେ କହିଲା " ମୁନିସିପାଲିଟି ର ମୋଟେ କ୍ଷମତା ନାହିଁ ଏମିତି ଗୋଟେ ମାମୂଲ ଅସୁଲ କରିବା ପାଇଁ | ମୁଁ କେମିତି ଦେବି?" ତା ନୈତିକ ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧ ମୋତେ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ କରୁଥାଏ | ତା ମନୋବଳ ରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ମୁଁ ଯତ୍ପରୋନାସ୍ତି ପ୍ରୟାସ କରୁଥିଲି | ତାକୁ ୟୁଜର ଚାର୍ଜ ପୈଠ ନକରି କିଛିଦିନ ଅପେକ୍ଷା କରିବାକୁ ଉପଦେଶ ଦେଲି | ଦେଖାଯାଉ ବିଜେପି ବନ୍ଧୁ ମାନେ କଣ କରୁଛନ୍ତି | ଆମ ସମାଜରେ "ଲାଠି ଯାହାର ମହିଷି ତାହାର " ନ୍ୟାୟ ଚାଲିବ ନା ବିଧି ଦ୍ୱାରା ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାର ବିଜୟ ହେବ ?
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24th February, 2017

AN EXERCISE FOR UNJUST ENRICHMENT

After the recent Elections to the Panchayati Raj Bodies I felt like articulating some of my apolitical thoughts with personal malice towards none.

" I view the recent Election predominantly as an elaborate exercise on unjust enrichment. Who has emerged victorious is not the issue. Who has been vanquished is more important.
 The young girl of Pipili, in coma, fighting for her life; the young eight year old girl in little known village BEDAGUDA near Jeypore in Koraput District, holding a handy solar lamp, one of a few such lamps gifted to the villagers by a few enlightened youths who chose to climb the hills and reach the poor villagers; the hapless tribals who again look forward to the annual visits of Cholera; those defenceless weak villagers of Odisha who will pay advance gratification to the strong men of the Panchayats on the hope of an Indira Awas; the unsuspecting villagers who would be made to assemble on the promise of a good lunch and/or some inducement, to mark their presence in a public hearing
for an industrial or a mining project the benefits of which to the villagers would not be clear; the 1.8 million Odias who leave their homes in search of manual jobs in different parts of the country; the thousands of children in government schools who wait for teachers --- they are some of the characters who stand vanquished.
 Who are the victors? Those who own SUVs or shortly would; those who would only be listened to; those who would lead a life of tax free luxury and those who facilitate the indulgence to happen-- they are the victors
It is ironic that Emperor Ashoka had won victory in the Kalinga War at a place not far from the State Legislature Building at Bhubaneswar. After a bloody war in which thousands perished, the Emperor could  soon realise the futility of such a victory and made amends. He renounced violence and gave a humane face to governance. Unfortunately the Ashokan Edict at Dhauli that explained the rationale of governance and explained the duties of a Ruler, has only a few visitors today and certainly not one of them will ever be from those who has emerged victorious in the just concluded Election. The rock Edicts have ceased to be relevant; the present script-writers are rewriting the tenets of governance where it is only the Ruler and his interests  matter.
We seem to be surely and steadily slipping into sure anarchy. Power-capturing, by hook or by crook, has been the mantra. Anyone having even a modest degree of leadership qualities should be toiling hard to lift our people from the morass of grinding poverty. Here, however, we see the so called leaders rolling in money. Twelve years is a Yuga. What has been the track record in the area of poverty-reduction?
 I therefore confess my inability to view the recently concluded Election in any manner other than an exercise of unjust enrichment.

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21st February, 2012

WITH THE CAB DRIVER

He is 34, he said; comfortable with spoken Hindi, he earned a thousand rupees a day after meeting operating expenses. This trip would cost me Rs. 620/-; but would give him four hundred. He seemed to be a happy-go-lucky chap and meandered his taxi through city’s lanes and bye-lanes , sometimes taking his cab to main streets. Most of the interior cityscape being unknown to me, I got little idea if the vehicle was on course. I looked at the Google Maps and the destination is now only 35 minutes-  a piece of information that is reassuring. After my elder grandson downloaded the Uber App this morning and commanded the first cab for my solo trip in the morning, the return trip, now on, is my maiden self executed odyssey. He kept talking to people over wires flowing from his ears while driving and that made the journey pleasant; but not until he started crying suddenly and continued to speak between sobs. “Surely this man has received terrible news!” I thought and asked him if everything was fine! His voice was now normal and he confirmed everything was fine. It was now his turn to laugh with the person he was talking to till I had interrupted.
After driving me for over an hour on the hot mid day in his cab, he asked if I had had my food before commencing the journey. The words made a soothing impact. I asked if he would have food after dropping me at my destination. “Yes”, he said. “Where?” I asked. “At any appropriate eating place that served what I liked”, he said. “How much do you spend on food?” I asked. He liked two idlis for breakfast, if he had it before ten; otherwise it is a piece of bread with tea. The lunch costs him fifty rupees. He goes for his favourite Ragi   mudda. Occasionally he adds to it an omelette  when it costs ten rupees more. Ragi mudda made him feel cool throughout the day, he said. His austere living style surely had shaped his persona. He looked cool and cheerful. He could  always afford a more expensive meal, his sense of discrimination, however, made him opt for what was essential for him. It was a learning experience.
The morning cab experience of mine I had rated five star. I should have reserved that rating to the present one and given only four to the morning cab whose upholstery was of poor quality. This trip has been in a better cab, by a more interesting driver and a hundred thirty rupees cheaper. They should give us scope for seven star ratings to meet a situation I now find myself in.

THE OLDMAN WALKED BACK TO THE GERIATRIC HOME

"He didn't mind doing errands on the request of the son and the son's wife. He loved both of them. Their chubby two year old son was the apple of his eyes. He had retired from a very high position in the government and therefore had reasonable saving and earned a handsome pension. He was not short of money. 

He didn't mind spending his money to run the house though his son too was on a good job and was earning well. 

In the beginning, the errands were occasional for sometime but not before long had became a daily ritual. Every morning his dear son's wife would give him a chit having a score of items-- ranging from toothpicks to detergent powder-- written on it and he was expected to go to the market, buy the items from the department store and then roam around looking for fresh brinjal, two inch long Bhindi etc as per the specifications spelt out to him by her verbally. 

The elderly loving man soon feeling slighted at the daily command and an otherwise agreeable household-chore had turned into a drudgery. It hurt his self-esteem. He felt he was losing his stature and was turning into a beast of burden. His lonely existence after the passing away of his wife had become more oppressive.

One day he reached an old age home in the city and stayed on. Life was less taunting. The smile of the child at home kept haunting. An urge swelled in him and made him restive; there was force within, pushing him to go back to the child who too loved him. This made him restless. 

One day he reached the teastall close to his house in the morning and waited for his son to pass that way on his way to the office. The son did come that way, he saw the father but didn't stop to take him home, to his grandchild as the grandfather had been yearning for.

 He wiped his eyes and went back to the old age home, leaving emotions at the teastall."

This is what Gopal told me this morning about the elderly gentleman whom he knew well. He wanted  I wrote about his case.

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(February 16, 2015)

THE VILLAGE THEATRE

I would not like to raise a controversy on how many Odisha villages remain dark at night without elecrticity; nor would I hazard a guess on the number of Odisha households which go without electricity. 
Here is the response of a youth to the persisiting darkness in the unverse he operates in.
 He wants to make a living with darkness as his sole capital. Yesterday friend Swayam sought my suggestion. He was working on a proposal of the young man. The young enthusiast wants a 
made-to-order solar device that would be portable, provide enough power for a TV set to operate for eight hours and also light a bulb for eight hours. The entrepreneur would carry the unit from place to place in the zone of darkness and enable the dark zone inhabitants to watch movies fed into the TV monitor through a DVD set. The young man is confident of earning a couple of hundred rupees per night and provide the pleasure and privilege of Indian Cinema to thousands of people in the dark zone.
" Can you find out a financier?" Swayam asked. I could not readily help him, but his request made rounds in my mind. Is it too much to ask our Actor MPs to donate five lakhs of rupees for this worthy cause? After all , here is how a young man wants to spread enlightenment in the dark zone and our Actor MPs could extend a modest hand-holding. 
The five lakhs of rupees could set up ten projects.We thereby create ten jobs and thousand smiles in the dark zone where there seems little possibility to bring light. 

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( Feb 13, 2015) 

BASANT PANCHAMI IN A SMALL TOWN SCHOOL

Today being Basant Panchami, Bubun reminisced this day while he was in school over 3 decades ago. It was a small town school where the Goddess of Learning was held in great reverence and awe. “The boys brought flowers , leaves, paper of different colours; the girls made festoons; boys then hung or tied the festoons at appropriate places. Sanskrit teacher functioned as the priest while the school peon turned cook, with some student volunteers lending helping hands for cutting and chopping vegetables and grinding coriander and cumin seeds. The headmaster always made the most judicious deployment of  the human resource at his command for observing the Basant Panchami . There would be no square peg in a round hole. And the most wicked and naughty boy of the school who almost everyday got either a slap or a scolding from the headmaster, would be sent for. He would appear before the headmaster and would almost be overwhelmed by an affectionate pat on his back. The smiling headmaster would assign him a big job .He would prepare four buckets of dry Prasad made of Bundi, cut pieces of bananas and grated coconuts.” I interrupted him at this stage and wanted to know how the most wicked boy made a difference in the making of the dry Prasad. “ No student would go near the buckets to steal a portion of the tasty Prasad while the Bully was in charge”, Bubun explained.

*****
10th February, 2019

କ୍ଷମତା ରାଜନୀତି କୌଶଳ

ଗୁଡ଼େ ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ଅସୁବିଧାରେ ରଖି ତାଙ୍କୁ ଭଲଦିନର ଆଶ୍ୱାସନା ଦେଇ ନିଜ ହାତମୁଠାରେ ରଖିବା ଆମ ଦେଶରେ କ୍ଷମତା ରାଜନୀତି ସଂସାରରେ ଏକ ସାଧାରଣ କୌଶଳ ହେଇଗଲାଣି | ଏହାଦ୍ୱାରା ଆମ ଦେଶର ତ କ୍ଷତି ହେଉଛି ; କିନ୍ତୁ କ୍ଷମତା ରାଜନୀତିର ମଙ୍ଗୁଆଳମାନେ ଏହା ଫଳରେ କ୍ଷମତା ଜାବୁଡି ରଖି ପାରୁଛନ୍ତି | 
ସହରରେ ବସ୍ତିବାସିନ୍ଦାଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ଭାବନ୍ତୁ | ଖାଲ ହଉ , ନାଳ ହେଉ ; ପଡିଆ ହେଉ ; ଯେଉଁଠି ପାରେ ସେଇଠି ; ବସ୍ତି ଛତୁ ଫୁଟିଲାପରି ହେଇ ଚାଲିଛି | ସହରର ଶ୍ବାସରୁଦ୍ଧ ହେଇଯାଉଛି ; ନର୍ଦମା ପାଣି ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରଣ ବିହୀନ ହେଇ ବୋହୁଛି ; ବର୍ଷାଜଳ ରାସ୍ତା ମାନଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ଲାବିତ କରୁଛି ; ପାନୀୟଜଳ ପାଇପ, କଣା ହେଇ ବସ୍ତିବାସୀଙ୍କ ତୃଷା ମେଂଟାଉଛି | ଅନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରିତ ବସ୍ତି ର କଳେବର ବଢି ଚାଲିଛି | ବାସିନ୍ଦା ମାନଙ୍କର ଜମି ମାଲିକାନା ନଥିବାରୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଡରେଇ ଧମକେଇ ବା ଆଶ୍ୱାସନା ଦେଇ ତାଙ୍କର ଆନୁଗତ୍ୟ ହାସଲ କରାଯାଉଛି | ଗୋଟିଏ ଗୋଟିଏ ସହରରେ ବସ୍ତିବାସୀଙ୍କ ସଂଖ୍ୟା ଜମି ମାଲିକାନାରେ ଥିବା ଅଧିବାସୀଙ୍କ ଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ ହେଇଗଲାଣି | ଫଳରେ ବସ୍ତିବାସୀଙ୍କ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ ବିନା ନିର୍ବାଚନରେ ଜୟଲାଭ କରିବା ସମ୍ଭବ ହେଉନାହିଁ | 
ଗାଁ କଥାବି ସେମିତି | କ୍ଷମତା ଦଲାଲମାନେ ଚାହିଁଲେ, ଗୋଟିଏ ଅନୁଗ୍ରହ ଆଧାରିତ ଅଯୋଗ୍ୟ ପରିବାରର ରାସନ କାର୍ଡକୁ ଅକାମି କରିଦେଲେ, ଗୋଟିଏ ପରିବାର ଅସାଧୁ ଉପାୟରେ ମାସକୁ କୋଡିଏ ପଚିଶ କିଲୋ ଶସ୍ତା ଚାଉଳ ପାଉଥିବା ସୁଯୋଗରୁ ବଂଚିତ ହେଉଛି | ତେଣୁ ସେହି ପରିବାରର ଆନୁଗତ୍ୟ ଧମକ ବଳରେ ହାସଲ କରିହେଉଛି | ଆନୁଗତ୍ୟ ବିନା, ଘର ; ପାଇଖାନା; ସ୍ୱୟଂ ସହାୟକ ଗୋଷ୍ଠୀ ପାଇଁ ଆର୍ଥିକ ସହାୟତା ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ଅନେକ ସୁବିଧା ପାଇବା ଅସମ୍ଭବ ହେଇଯାଉଛି | ତେଣୁ ଗାଁର ଅନେକ ପରିବାର ଅନୁଗ୍ରହରେ ବଂଚିବାକୁ ହେଲେ କ୍ଷମତା କେନ୍ଦ୍ରର ମଙ୍ଗୁଆଳଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ନତମସ୍ତକ ହୋଇ ରହୁଛନ୍ତି |
 ଆମ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାରେ ଆଜି ମଧ୍ୟ ଆଇନର ପ୍ରାଧାନ୍ୟ ବଦଳରେ ଇଚ୍ଛାଧୀନ କ୍ଷମତା ର ପ୍ରାବଲ୍ୟ ରହିଛି | ଏହି ସମସ୍ତ ଅବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାର ନିରାକାରଣ ପାଇଁ ସଚେତନ ନାଗରିକ ବା ରାଜନୈତିକ ଶକ୍ତି ବ୍ୟଗ୍ର ଥିବା ମନେହୁଏନି |6th February, 2018

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6th February, 2018

VISIT OF A PIOUS MAN

" How much I receive from Him depends upon how much I have surrendered myself to Him and also on the purity of my heart. 

And how much of His transmitted blessings I am able to transmit to a person suffering, like one afflicted with a dreaded disease, depends again on the level of purity of my heart. "It is possible to cure every ailment through Divine grace", he said. 

From the moment he had got down from the car, embraced me and wept for a while, he alone was speaking. None of us got a chance. 

Even at the dining table, he talked more and ate little, though he had said he would eat everything, including the robust green chilli and Rasagollas. 

"You cannot love Him if you cannot love everyone", he said and then suddenly turned to my brother, Pramode, and said, "I am receiving plenty of positive vibrations from you."

 He embraced me again and wiped his tears.

 "I am not afraid of Death, I know, I shall come back." Suddenly, I said, "To complete the task unfinished." 

He looked at me and said," You have said everything."

 It was now time for him to leave, for the Hotel. I held his hand and walked up to the car. 

His daughter followed, carrying his walking stick. 

The frail, ninetyone year old, Hari Dutt Naithani, left behind, in our house, plenty of positive energy.

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5th February, 2017

THE CONTINUING DEFICIENCIES IN MY SMALL CITY

My sister had moved to her new house on the 2nd of January, 2002 in Kalinga Vihar ( An important residential colony of Bhubaneswar). That was just 17 years ago. 
The lane in front of her house after a few years hosted many potholes and soon there was no trace of black on top. For about five years, I see only a barren uneven dusty patch that is what is left of the lane. Today she had a feeling of celebration.
 They have offloaded some sand on the side of the lane. The lane now would be done up-- after years of neglect. That is not the lone lane of Kalinga Vihar , or, for that matter, many city lanes, that wears and suffers the forlorn look. The neglect is widespread. The hiatus between the city denizens and the city government keeps widening. There is widespread disconnect. Those lanes that are repaired, soon lose lustre and potholes appear after two years. The Black topped road soon don't look KALIA. 
I am yet to see the lane in front of my house in BJB Nagar renovated and I suffer rain-cuts, humps, broken manhole chamber-cover. And in the absence of a signage at the beginning of the lane, I keep explaining where I live ; but the OLA Driver would not understand. 
We are inept in keeping our city lanes in proper shape; we do not put signage indicating the lane number and house numbers. We display our inability to maintain a small sized but important Indian city in reasonable shape. 
The other day while my car stopped at the traffic light near the AG Office , I began counting the CCTV cameras installed on many poles around; but soon lost count.

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ଶିକ୍ଷାର ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ

୧୯୬୦/୬୧ ମସିହା ରେ  ମୁଁ ରେଭେନ୍ଶା କଲେଜରେ ସ୍ନାତକ ସ୍ତରରେ ରାଜନୀତି ବିଜ୍ଞାନ ଅନର୍ସ ବିଭାଗର ଛାତ୍ର ଥିଲି | ଅନର୍ସ ବିଭାଗରେ  ବତିଶ ଜଣ ଶିକ୍ଷାର୍ଥୀ ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ କରୁଥିଲେ | ବୋଧହୁଏ ଶହେ ଅଠେଇଶଜଣ ଶିକ୍ଷାର୍ଥୀ ରାଜନୀତି ବିଜ୍ଞାନ ପାସ ବିଷୟ ଭାବରେ ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ କରୁଥିଲେ | ଦିନେ ରସାୟନ ବିଜ୍ଞାନ ଲେକ୍ଚର ଥିଏଟରରେ ରାଜନୀତିଵିଜ୍ଞାନ ର ଉଭୟ ପାସ ଓ ଅନର୍ସ ର ଶିକ୍ଷାର୍ଥୀ ମାନଙ୍କର ଏକ ସମ୍ମିଳିତ କ୍ଳାସ ନେଉଥିଲେ ସ୍ୱନାମଧନ୍ୟ, ବାଗ୍ମୀ ; ବିଚକ୍ଷଣ ଅଧ୍ୟାପକ ନମସ୍ୟ ଡକ୍ଟର ଶ୍ରୀରାମଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଦାଶ | ତାଙ୍କର ଅଧ୍ୟାପନା ଶୈଳୀ ଅନନ୍ୟ ଥିଲା | ଗୋଟିଏ ସାଧାରଣ ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗ କୁ ଆଧାରକରି ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ବକ୍ତୃତା ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବେ ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତେ ମନ୍ତ୍ରମୁଗ୍ଧ ହୋଇ ତାଙ୍କ ଅନର୍ଗଳ ଭାଷଣ ରେ ଲୀନ ହେବାବେଳକୁ ସେ ନିଜ ବାକକୌଶଳ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରି ମୁଖ୍ୟ ବିଷୟବସ୍ତୁ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଶିକ୍ଷାଦାନ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିଦେବେ | ପ୍ରାୟ ସମସ୍ତେ ଅନୁଭବ କରୁଥିଲେ ଯେ ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ କ୍ଳାସ ଅତି ଅଳ୍ପ ସମୟରେ ଶେଷ ହୋଇଯାଉଥିଲା | ସେଦିନ ସେ ସାର୍ବଭୌମତ୍ବ (sovereignty) ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ନିଜ ବକ୍ତୃତା ଆରମ୍ଭ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ହଠାତ ଜଣେ ଶିକ୍ଷାର୍ଥୀଙ୍କୁ ସାର୍ବଭୌମତ୍ବ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ତାଙ୍କ ଜ୍ଞାନ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ଚାହିଁଲେ | ଆମ ସହପାଠୀ ଶିକ୍ଷାର୍ଥୀ ଜଣକ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମେଧାସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଥିଲା | ହୁଏତ ଡକ୍ଟର ଦାଶଙ୍କ ଅତର୍କିତ ଚୟନ ତାକୁ କିଛିମାତ୍ରାରେ ବିଚଳିତ କରିଥିଲା | ସେ କିନ୍ତୁ ଦମ୍ଭର ସହିତ ସାର୍ବଭୌମତ୍ବ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ପ୍ରାୟ ତିନି ଚାରିଜଣ ଦାର୍ଶନିକ କଣ କହିଥିଏ ତାହା କହିବାରେ ଲାଗିଲା | ଡକ୍ଟର ଦାଶ ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟଚ୍ୟୁତ ହେଲେ ଏବଂ ଉଚ୍ଚସ୍ୱରରେ କହିଲେ " ହଉ , ଏତେଗୁଡ଼େ ଦାର୍ଶନିକଙ୍କ ସାର୍ବଭୌମତ୍ବ ର ସଜ୍ଞା ଶୁଣିଲି ; ମୁଁ କିନ୍ତୁ ଚାହୁଁଛି ଜାଣିବା ପାଇଁ ଯେ ତୁ ନିଜେ ସାର୍ବଭୌମତ୍ବ ବିଷୟରେ ଯାହା ବୁଝିଛୁ ନିଜ ଭାଷାରେ ମୋତେ କହିବୁ |" ସେତେବେଳକୁ ଆମ ସହପାଠୀ ଝାଳନାଳ ହେଇ ଯାଇଥିଲା | ମୁଁ ସେଦିନ ଶିକ୍ଷାର ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ ବୁଝିଲି | ଶୁଆ ପରି କୌଣସି ଶବ୍ଦ ନବୁଝି କଣ୍ଠସ୍ଥ କରି ଆମେ ଜ୍ଞାନ ଆହରଣ କରୁନି | କୌଣସି ବିଷୟର ଜ୍ଞାନ ଉପଲବ୍ଧ ହୋଇଥାଏ ଯେତେବେଳେ ସେହି ବିଷୟଟି ଆମ ମେଧାଶକ୍ତିର ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରଣକୁ ଆସେ ଏବଂ ଆମ ଭାଷାରେ ଆତ୍ମପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଥାଏ | ସେଦିନ ଡକ୍ଟର ଦାଶଙ୍କ ପ୍ରକୃତ ଶିକ୍ଷା ସେହି ଦୁଇପଦ ଉପଦେଶରେ ଅନ୍ତର୍ନିହିତ ଥିଲା | ଆଜିଯାଏ ଅନେକ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଶିକ୍ଷାର୍ଥୀ ମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ କିଛି ଉପଦେଶ ଦେବାବେଳେ ଏହି ଦୃଷ୍ଟାନ୍ତର ଅବତାରଣା କରିଥାଏ |

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UNDERSTANDING RAAHGIRI

        Three years ago, curiosity had led me to understand what Raahgiri was all about. It is, I was given to understand, associated with a concept "Apni Rahen, Apni Azaadi" (Freedom to choose one's path).
      I soon realised I was getting into quicksand . We have large Bovine families in Bhubaneswar who have been firm believers in this philosophy for decades; so are the Auto Rickshaw pilots on cockpit and some young Bike riders and many perambulating street vendors.
     Why then are we anxious to revisit the issue? In Bhubaneswar a better way of asserting one's Azaadi is to walk carefree in the many beautiful and sprawling public parks the city has been hosting. Why are we anxious to add number to the many Azaadis who have been on the street for many years?
     The movement that started in Gurgaon was meant to articulate societal demand for pedestrian and cycling friendly infrastructure for the entire city and to have safer roads for all. Playing Kabaddi; Rumal Chori ; Antakshari or undertaking slow cycling shows do not convey the demand for appropriate infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

         Did Bhubaneswar Raahgiri enthusiasts understand? Did they learn? Has Bhubaneswar created safe and adequate space for pedestrians and cyclists? We need to introspect. We must resist the temptation for gimmickry.

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