The Reigning Deity of Angul Town
BIKASH CHOUDHURY
In a
cold November morning with the crackle of alarm clock; got up to prepare for
the journey from Bhubaneswar to Anugul to have a ‘darsan’ of “Budhi Thakurani” the
reigning deity of the small town. The winter has just set in and at 5 in the
morning it was a task to discount the deep slumber; therefore, quietly closed
the door of bedroom for not disturbing the sleep of my better half, she was
sleeping to her heart content with sporadic snores in between and totally
ignorant of my plan of sudden expedition. I drove to the nearest OMFED shop to
have a quick smoke over a cup of tea to bring little coordination needed
between the body & mind to proceed with the journey. Came back and had a
wash in hot water and completed the little daily puja (as it is considered
inauspicious to leave, without attending to the deities at home) and was
ready to move around 6.20 am instinctively knew that I could not catch the 6.45
DMU train to Angul and therefore, change the plan to catch a bus instead.
Fortunately, boarded the bus just in time to occupy the front window seat that
is perfect for clear view of nature while listening to favorite Hindi songs in
FM or read through one of the must read books. Initially, scanned the green
fields, water bodies and small birds chirping while scouting for food just like
any professional poet or a writer though I sport a business card which reads
socio-economic-political activist which in other words you are unemployed or
under employed (cat calls of family and friends have eventually died down
over the years) I cared two hoots about them and their views then, and even
now. Not because of any disdain for the persons; but, vitriolic comments some
time disturb my peace of mind and my work suffers a little. However, I
subscribe to the opinion of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar “critiques should be respected
as they take enormous risk to voice their opinion openly” and Bhgabat Gita says
‘not to hold any animosity towards your critique because that holds mark of
spiritual excellence’ As Jesus Christ forgave the same people who nailed him
and Gandhi died saying Hi Ram to Nathuram Godse (apparently).
Half hour to
the journey and I got the call of nature but the bus conductor refused to stop
as he would be late for the return schedule. I read some where earlier an
author advising her daughter “girls seat tight” as her husband and son went to
relieve themselves after stopping the car on a long road journey” As in our
society middle class women don’t go out on the open for social stigma and you
never know where would you be hit the next; however, for men there is no class
barrier for open urination in full public view in our country; therefore, you
would find tourist destination stinks of sulfur and urea. My thinking
antenna got hyperactive immediately; we could install dry urinals on the State
& National Highways not by Govt. but by local businessmen and give
employment to unemployed and handicap persons for the upkeep and charge nominal
fees from the users as we all know free meal does not work. That should protect
the modesty of traveling women folks of all class. And, further there should be
provisions of a dry urinal in long route bus services, 3 hrs and above; may be
with little extra bus fare. After an hour bus stopped at Dhenkanal bus
depot and I rushed to the public urinal to relieve my self; but, alas the
condition of urinal brought me to instant vomiting sensation but some how
managed to escape. Question came into my mind if the Govt. authorities could
not maintain the civic facility at the bus depot; then, is it not the
responsibility of the Bus Transport Association to at least maintain the civic
amenities at a minimum standard of hygiene as they are earning huge money year
after year from the traveling public??? Similarly I always curse the road in
front of Mayfair & Trident Hotel at Bhubaneswar, with millions of pot holes
though these huge business establishments use the road to get their customers;
why they should not invest a fraction of their profit to maintain this less
than half a kilometer of road. What Dilip Ray learned from his guru Biju
Patnaik???
My onward journey from Dhenkanal
to Angul was more comfortable after relieving myself as little pain in the body
stops you from enjoying the nature outside the bus window when green mountains
pass by, farmers ploughing land and attend to the standing crops at a distance
and a bunch of school girls joyfully going to the nearest school in uniform;
while a scintillating music was playing in the background in the FM “Allah Ki
Bande” mind was being soaked with nature in empty stomach. On the way to Angul
you have to pass through heavily industrialized area with dust like Jindal
& Bhushan steel NALCO CPP and Smelter Plant those were part of my marketing
territory in 1990; felt little nostalgia about these organizations who filled
my working life at some point of time and must have contributed to my learning;
a silent salute came out inside me in mark of respect. After three and half
hour of journey landed safely at Angul Town a distance of 160K.m; with an
average speed of little over 45 K.m an hour, I wish if we could provide the
quality of National & State Highways that can take an average speed of
65K.m an hour. That could save billions of USD on fuel and also wear and tear
of automobiles, but, who listens???
Angul
has very long and old association with me personally. This is the town that
gave my father the success he so eminently deserved after spending/sharing his
meager income with his large joint family of deceased brothers; but, never ever
said or claimed any credit for it for which our joint family use to prostrate
him for his sacrifice and more for his simplicity, dynamism and vision. He went
to Angul as the Chief Executive of an ailing Angul District Co-Operative Bank
in1975 which with his tireless effort made a highly profitable institution by
the time he left for his next assignment in 1980. Six years that our families
spend in Angul town was tumultuous and remained very impressionable in my mind
till today.
Budhi
Thakurani temple situated in the centre of the town on a small and barren
hillock; there used to be a weather forecasting office on the top and a English
medium school (my only little brother studied in that school) managed by
Rotary Club on the foot of the hillock and there were number of ponds across
the road with greenery making a just setting for poets and writers. Initially
father’s colleague introduced us to Budhi Thakurani temple and our entire
family became truly devoted to reigning deity who protects her devotees; I used
to visit the deity with my mother on Thursday evenings with Diyas and just
casual look at the Devi used to give an unusual peace of mind which I observed
then as a school boy and now after 30 long years also, I cherish her blessing
for which I drawn to her many times. Budhi Thakurani Temple at 11 in the
morning was deserted, bought a Diya and another vendor insisted on a garland of
hibiscus flower which I offered to the Devi Thakurani with utmost devotion and
the priest made a little Puja for me and blessed me profusely which gave
immediately tremendous confidence, peace of mind to negotiate the road ahead.
Recently one Jagannath Temple has also come up near by and I also took a bow of
Lord Jagannath, the reigning deity of Odisha and the World, before taking a bus
back to Bhubaneswar .
Twitter: @ideasofhope Blog: www.ideasofhopebikash.blogspot.com
E-mail:streben.market@gmail.com
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