GreyMatter
Uncommon Perspectives by Naveen Bachwani
Filed under India | 9 October 2007 |
2 responses
More than a decade ago, way back in 1995, I was a graduate student in my final year at St. Xavier’s College, Bombay. As a part of our Honours’ project, we embarked upon a 7-day field trip to the interiors of Gujarat, thanks to the good graces of our Professor – Dr. Vlidakar – who had worked extensively in the Amba Dongar region. Soon, five young students (including myself) found ourselves in a location that was 100 kms from the nearest big city, armed with nothing but a map and a compass! It was on that trip that I first encountered Rangpur and the “Ashram”.
The Anand Niketan Ashram was run by Shri Harivallabh Parikh, lovingly referred to as “Bhai Ji” by his followers. And, I had never seen any thing like it…
It was like an oasis in the midst of a never-ending desert… The sprawling tree in the middle of the compond under which evening discourses were organized, the buzzing activity of villagers helping out with routine tasks at the ashram, the single telephone instrument on site labelled “Telephone Exchange”! It was all too quaint and charming to be true… at least for “city boys” like me.
Our job was to map a segment of the Narmada river and collect some rock samples from its river bed. We also needed to collect a few sample from the local hill – Phenai Mata. The hill was more than a 1000-feet high, as I recall, and was surrounded by a river. And, we had no means of finding our way to its top.
Not only did the Ashram provide us with a place to stay and meals to eat, but when we mentioned our challenge (of Phenai Mata), just in passing, to Bhai Ji, we found a local “guide” waiting to escort us to the top, the very next morning! In fact, since there was no public or private transport in the region, in those days, each day, we would walk to a place some kilometeres away from the Ashram, only to return with a bag full of rocks in the evening, and do it all over, the following day. But, on the day we were to go atop the Phenai Mata hill – a good 7-8 kms away from the Ashram – not only did Bhai Ji arrange for a local guide who knew the quickest way across the river and up the mountain, but also arranged for a jeep to drive us to its foothill! And, all this, without even asking for it.
It’s not just the help that was extended to us while on that trip. It was the many small and big things that the Ashram was doing for villagers and tribals in the surrounding area, totalling more than 60,000 in number (in 1995!). I was left simply spellbound by the selfless service of Bhai Ji and his dedication to the cause he espoused.
Even today, after all these years, images from that week-long-trip come rushing to me, as if it was only yesterday… The little school we passed by where all the children rushed out to greet us, the friendly villagers in the surrounding region that we could hardly communicate with, the hospitality of the Ashram and the brief but everlasting encounter with Bhai Ji…
That is why, when I began researching Rangpur on the Internet, I was pleasantly surprised to find a website detailing the Ashram and its achievements (and how they have grown over the years!)
I just wanted to take this opportunity to let Bhai Ji know how much those few days I spent at the Ashram have meant to me over the course of my life, and to say Thank You for that life-changing experience.
drpankajshukla
That was a great write up!
Places like these generally leave deep and lasting impressions !
Guybhai
I deeply share the impressions of the writer. I have been several times to the Ashram. First time was in 1964 and I witnessed the remarkable changes made under the impetus of the Bhai. The outcome could be observed in the whole region. The Open Court left me also with a strong message that I aimed at spreading all over Western Europe and more.
Peace to all!