Role Model

A month before the common man found an effective channel to vent out his anger and frustration at the governing system infested with corruption, I happened to travel to a far off place. Name does not matter to me anymore as I am optimistic about coming across more places like this. This place has a couple of structures of historical and architectural importance lying in a state of somewhat neglect for lack of funds. I would not have gone to this place for getting a mere look these structures but since I happened to be there, I thought it fit to pay a fleeting visit to these structures.

The first one is a palace, very thoughtfully built few centuries back. Now, it stands very carefully renovated with betel-juice paint, graffiti, pee and pigeon nests. Being very well lit and ventilated, the after effects of renovation do not suffocate me and I decide to quickly hop around. The curator is delighted that after a long time, someone with intentions not malicious entered the property. So he enthusiastically takes me around. On inquiring about the second structure, the big, circular underground bath or  the 'gol bawari', he is even more delighted and calls up the curator there to inform him about my impending visit. Then he explains that the structure is kept locked to prevent nuisance mongers from mutilating it.

The curator at the bath is a very friendly uncle. Sheer happiness is visible from his face as he takes me around and explains the working of the elaborate system of yesteryear. I am aware that he has come  all the way from his home in the afternoon sun for me. Purely based on previous conditioning to handle such situations, I feel obliged to reward him. This obligation is partly because of my host's genteel nature and partly because I believe that he would be expecting it and would feel highly disappointed if I leave without tipping him. As we come out, I take out a hundred rupee note and offer it to him saying, "Uncle, please have some tea."

I was not prepared for what happened next. He refused it very graciously with folded hands. I insisted. He said, "Sir, it is not needed, God has provided me everything. I got a chance to show you around, what could have been a bigger reward!" My head hung in shame in front of this man who could not  think of justifying greed with the burden of a daughter's marriage or son's education.

Looking at the swinging corn ears and the distant hillocks on my way back, I could not help humming these lines...

निकृति की अग्नि से जलते हुए मन को, मिल जाये ईमान की छाया, 

ऐसा ही सुख मेरे मन को मिला है, मैंने जब से परिचय तेरा पाया |