What you need to learn from the Rajasthani Gujjars

What's up with this "Hard work + Dreams + Dedication = SUCCESS" thing? Doesn't "Protest + Blackmail" spell the same? Why do you and I even work hard for our future? We should learn something from Rajasthani Gujjars.

We should collect in groups and vandalize railway tracks whenever we feel like doing it for our selfish interests. Yes, let's march to the nearest tracks and uproot them. Let's spoil the Indian Railway's routine, disturb the schedule, put 1000's of running trains and the passengers into danger because it's just not our business that by how much even a 10-second delay increases the possibility of accidents on the tracks. It won't even be our fault but the government would be held responsible if anything unfateful happens. Because we are unemployed and we just want jobs by hook or crook so let's just do it.

So what if the Indian Railways has to suffer a loss of over ₹100 crores? So what if the passengers travelling by the rail-route have to delay or perhaps even cancel their journey no matter what importance it holds in their lives right now? It should just be the government's headache if the travelling kids that had to cancel their tickets further protest for not being able to appear for their important examinations because of the delays. It should be the government's trouble if any emergency takes place within the train-compartments and help cannot be provided because it's just not my business.

If the Gujjars constitute 7% of Rajasthan's population and can demand 5% reservation of seats in government jobs, and further succeed in doing so, I should do the same. The fact that 70+ other castes also coming under the OBC quota were even more backward than them is not the Gujjars' problem. If they want reservation as well, let them protest for themselves just like the Gujjars did. The strategy is to get reservation in education and jobs equivalent to my caste's share in the population. It's not my responsibility to look into the matter if I actually deserve it or somebody else who deserves it gets the job or not. My ancestors couldn't acquire jobs and were illiterate and I as the 21st century youth choose to be the same.

I am a citizen of India and my country's constitution states that I am eligible to protest against anything that troubles me. I am a citizen who elects a government who is responsible to look after my economic needs. I am adamant to get a job and I can do whatever it takes to achieve that. The government will be obliged to hear what I say because it has to look equally after every sect of the society no matter how stupid and illegitimate their demands might be. It is their responsibility, not mine. Because I am a citizen who refuses to think logically but I am a citizen who deserves equality :)

The Most Exciting Conversation I've Ever Had -With A Stranger -In The Middle Of A Forest.

Few days back I was on a roadtrip with my family and we made a last stop at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur while returning. 18 of us hired rickshaw-pullers to show us around the park. Most of the rickshaw-pullers were trained local Sikhs.

I was sitting with my 8 year old cousin and a 15 year old friend and our rikshaw-puller, a fellow with a yellow turban rode us through the park. He was around 60 but, very active and was conversing with us the entire time. He had perfect knowledge about each and every detail about the park, its history and every bird specie, native and migratory, that visit the park round the 12 months.

As soon as we spotted the first bird, a Green Bee-eater, he started telling us about the species from its diet to average age to the tail that distinguishes a male from female, and I was dazed at the amount of knowledge the man had! But it wasn't just that yet. As we made our way deeper into the forest, it was the same for every bird and animal species! There were times when neither I nor my friend or cousin could spot a bird even with a pair of binoculars but he did with naked eyes!

After having spent some 20 minutes in the park, we spotted a bird that protects the eggs of other birds when in danger. At this, our rickshaw-puller commented that it is the same with every other thing on this planet. At first I couldn't make out what he was talking about. To this, he added "Agar Shaitaan hai, to Bhagwaan bhi hai (If devil exists, even God does.)" Things took an interesting turn from here on..

"I have observed this in the Park itself. 75% people are a form of devil. And the lies they tell are believed but the truth told by remaining 25% isn't ever. But God has an interesting way to justify things. Saints' lives never go wasted. Neither they feel pain when they die. 

My father came home one day when I was still a little kid and said it was time for him to go. And the very next morning he was gone. Then after an year my mother went. The same way. Two brothers were gone too. I was left alone. But I told God, don't call me yet. I have to grow up, have a family, earn a living for them. And I did. 

I have 4 kids. Two young boys and two girls. Married off both the daughters in well-to-do homes. Got a pakka house built for both sons. One is in the medical field and the other in engineering field. Everybody is content with their lives right now."

It was interesting to listen to him talk about such random things. I asked him quite a few things myself..

"I passed 8th grade many years ago. I went to Bikaner for a 6-month training to join this Park. I learnt many things there. I learnt English. Now I've been working here in this park for 20 years."

Then he started talking to us about his visitor friends from across the globe. Some from Russia, others from Spain, France, Germany and little 11 year old Rahul from Gurgaon with his large pair of binoculars. He said they visit every 6 months and prefer us (rickshaw-pullers) and not the sanctuary guides.

"We have many languages here in our Bhaarat (India). Maarwadi, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati. It is the same for this world. My Spanish friends talk to each other in Spanish-English. I keep asking them about the meanings of the words they use. Now I can sometimes make out what they talk about and even try to answer them in their language."

On our way back there was a huge black pipe off the right side of the road, nearly 20cm wide, water escaping its mouth and the sight appearing to be nothing less than a mighty waterfall falling from the heaven itself. For as pretty as it looked, one can't help but yearn to imbibe that beautiful sparkling water. Our rickshaw-puller seemed to have guessed my excitement and told us to hop off. He told us not to forget to splash it on our faces. And boy! did that feel good!

As we moved ahead of that huge pipe, we entered the part of the forest where there were a number of Jaamun (Blackberry) Trees. That heavenly scent of the trees was so refreshing that we asked our rickshaw puller to stop there for a while. He told us that Jaamun trees' scent is known to cure diseases over time.

When we were about to finish our trip to the forest, he started talking to us about Partition of India back in 1947 and talking about how large his native state Punjab could've been had it not been for that unfateful holocaust in 1947. He even told us about the story of the historic Bharatpur Fort and the braveheart Jaat rulers that are credited for successfully withstanding numerous attacks by the British forces and protecting their subjects. He exclaimed "Padha likha nahi hu lekin itni baate to jaanta hu, beta! (Though I'm not educated but I do know about these things!)

And then when we finally reached our destination, he climbed out of his rickshaw and said with a pleasant smile on his face "Bas khatam hua raasta, ab thakk gaya hu mein (Journey's over , I'm tired now)" I asked him to pose towards my camera for a picture and he unhesitatingly did! :D

Unravel The Ribbon: Take Me To A World

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Unravel The Ribbon: Take Me To A World