my old friend on train.........................

I was on my way to Bhopal.I was very excited as I was selected for the final interview of the country's most elite service "The Indian Army". I was in the AC 3tier compartment. There were all decent people. A beautiful woman I was sometimes looking at.Her eyes were really a piece of art. But I was reading a book designed for the interviews at least trying to so that I could get selected for the most elite service of my nation. Though I was finally declared not fit for the Army job but the initial excitement before selection was tremendous.The train first stopped at Durgapur and an old man boarded the train. I had a side upper birth and he had a lower birth just opposite to my seat. Uncle and I soon began talking and it was he who started the talk.Although I was not foolish to give my correct bio-data to a completely unknown person in today's world but somehow I felt he was not a bad man,he was a gentleman. We began to talk,I changed my Btech subject to electrical from Instrumentation,I changed my name to Anirban and my hometown to Sundarbans and also I reveled that my parents were school teachers and hiding my identity completely. I also changed my college to Jadavpur Engineering college, from my Techno India engineering college. But uncle had seen life and probably he understood that I was a student and so he gave me his original identity and he said he was working with a Bank in Mumbai for several years. He had seen India and wanted somebody to take charge and remove the corruption and unruliness that is prevailing in India.I said uncle that India is developing, I gave him a few examples of space science,bollywood,industrialization,flyovers,highways but I could not convince him much. Uncle continued and began his story but his only demand was I should quietly listen to him when he speaks.I agreed because listening to a story of an experienced man in a boring train journey shall of course bring some variety.I agreed to his demand and uncle started...... "I slept when Kanishka(my friend) was blown up. I slept when Hindus killed Muslims, when Muslims killed Hindus regardless of age, gender or region. I slept when Sikhs were gutted and killed. I slept when Kashmir burnt. I slept when a plane full of passengers and crew was taken to Kandahar. I slept when Biharis were targeted. And so will I sleep tonight when Mumbai once again burns. I am an Indian. I sleep. My country has been taken hostage not by terrorists. No, not by terrorists, but by people within it - ruling it. My country and my countrymen are held hostage and captive by its incompetent, uneducated, dishonest, exploitative, impotent, inefficient politicians, government and all its administrative departments. Efficiency is shown in bribing and in buying votes and seats, competence in bringing down other parties, expertise in bringing discord and playing divisive politics. Regionalism has reared its ugly head because I am sleeping. Reservation is still strongly advocated because I am sleeping. Corruption is deep rooted because I am sleeping. Raj Thackeray targets poor, unarmed Biharis but sits snugly under tight security when terrorists strike. A well published writer endorses Thackeray's dastardly action but shuts up when Mumbai is blown apart. It is easy to hound the poor laborer from Bihar than it is to raise your finger leave alone your voice against the organized terrorist. Crime and lawlessness are second nature. Criminals go free, breathing easy under a distorted system that protects their rights, whereas a Pragya is tortured, Sanjay Dutt is not left in peace. Every politician looks out for himself and himself alone. We have a defense ministry which defends only itself when it is found sleeping. And they are sleeping because I am sleeping. When I do rouse myself it is only for me- to target the neighbor's dog because his nocturnal barking is disturbing my beauty sleep. No, a hundred barking dogs cannot wake me. Criminals are made ministers because I sleep. Rapists go free when an eighty year old is penalized for smoking! Smoking is banned, bombs are allowed. I do not fear the terrorist from across the border. I fear the terrorist lurking within our motherland(INDIA) who wears khaki and who always comes in the guise of the unqualified politician, begging at my door with folded hands, a hypocritical smile on his smug face asking for my vote. Who do I vote for-The rapist or the religious fanatic? The murderer or the underworld don? Which honorable criminal is worthy of my esteemed vote? My heart bleeds but I will sleep on my soft mattress under my warm blanket. I am the long suffering, resilient Indian who has somehow lost his identity among Biharis, Marathis, Kannadigas, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Brahmins, the list is endless. " I was quietly listening and uncle made sure once whether I was listening and this time truly I was listening,I nodded my head and said "yes uncle Aur Battaiyye(say more)" and uncle continued "ab kya sunoge(what do u want to listen now)".I asked him to say his views on politics and uncle continued...... "Let's choose the best man , irrespective of any political party and make a new horizon as Vision India . Lets choose best economist, best retired defense personal, best humanist, best architect, best diplomat from our own individual constituency and fight the election against these corrupt political parties . But again , this will remain a dream only , as long , we are just remain in our comfort zone. If you need a change you have to change the entire system-The police,the politicians,the education infrastructure,the roads,job opportunities, culture, human values and ethics , control the population growth,dismantle the slums and replace them by houses. Are you ready to take this challenge? If the youth like you accept this challenge we can win again. When we were youth we freed our motherland, now you are youth and you have the task to recreate our motherland." I was speechless because did not know the answer."Was it ever possible to change the attitude of Indian citizens, Was it possible to control the population in a country where children are considered god's gift........etc,etc kept on coming in my mind and then I told him the possibility of having a strong leader.A organized force and uncle gave me an option to form a community.He said it was the most difficult task he was giving me if I was ready to take the responsibility.But I said "who am I. I am just a student,I don't anything about politics and beurocracy but uncle said me "when Akbar became the king he was a boy not even a 18 and you are about 21 if he could be a great king why not you be a great leader" I laughed and smiled at him and he smiled back.The train stopped in a station and I decided to buy some water so I asked uncle to look after my luggage and then uncle gave me a Rs20 note to buy a bottle of water for him .I agreed.Maybe I was seeing my own grandfather somewhere in him .I lost my grandfather before my matriculation exams.And my maternal grandfather expired before I came to this world.I bought two bottles of water one for me and I for uncle and returned the change of to uncle.He accepted it but I could feel that he had a bit hesitation in accepting the change because maybe he was seeing his own grandson in me who he said has settled in USA during our earlier talks and uncle was not happy about it. Maybe he wanted to give the special task to his grandson that he was giving me now. We had talked throughout the evening and slept at night and also the next morning and the boredom of the journey had slowly disappeared although there was a generation gap of about 4 decades between me and uncle we shared the same feeling of patriotism. It was uncle who first made me realize that if a organized task force of youth can be formed then we can change and achieve everything and he said there should be one leader always who shall guide others to success.I started to dream abut myself being a leader and then the topic changed, he said some benefits of rail budget and some drawbacks of rapid population growth, ways to increase education according to him and all other topics like sports,politics,history etc. Then uncle got down a few stations before Bhopal and my old friend was lost forever. But whatever he said and the challange he gave me to create a developed and corruption free India is still on my mind.I don't know really if it is possible but I promise to everyone and Uncle that I will do whatever possible form my side to form an organized task force for the development of INDIA and also the entire world. But one thing is clear in my mind my friends it is not possible to clap with one hand and a single man cannot create a mass revolution to change the world....................................... If all of us join hands together we can again recreate our happiness but that depends totally on the people.......................The people have to decide they will give the power to devils slowly and destroy the world or they will defeat all problems and go ahead in life............. Choice is yours and U decide........................................