RAJU BHAI - GARD
In early fifties, Chachu Chakkar Dhari had brought home a battery operated radio, which, apart from our famous angithi, attracted Ladori people making beeline to our house, at odd hours, for listening to old and melodious Punjabi Songs. Small skits and dramas broadcast in the program named "Thunia Ram ki Choupal" of All India Radio, Jalandhar interested people most.
Today on the eve of getting Laka's Tragdi back and thereby avoiding bad omen, the atmosphere in the house was more like a festival and people sat around the angithi for a longer time than before. They were fully occupied listening to songs and enjoying themselves. Even today the echo of the songs, those were on the air in everyday program, can still be felt. Like....Laude vele Mahi Auna// Mann Pakawan Kanak da// Andar Jawana, Bahar Jawana, Lal Chuda Thanakda// and like Tainu Diangi panj Vatashe ki Munshi Khat Likh de// then Bajre da Sitta ni Assan Talli te Marodia......
Laka was now grown up and I also had already come to this world by then. I am about six years younger than Bhai.
At Ladori, I always used to follow bhai where ever he went out side the house. I, like a Dumshalla, followed him always and, therefore, sometimes, he used to be irritated of my habit of following him all the time. One day, in the main entrance of the house, on the steps, we both met. Bhai was going somewhere. He looked as if he was angri. Phir Bhai ko gussa aya aur usne meri peeth par jor se ek Guthu mara aur wahan se bhaag gaya. Mujhe itni jor se dard hua ki paanch second tak mera saans ruk gaya. Voh guthu mein aaj tak nahi bhula!
Now we had grown little bigger. After doing matriculation, perhaps, Bhai went to Delhi to his Promilla Mausi for further studies, I presumed.
Once in winter season, all were sitting around the angithi. Few outsiders were also there and guppen lara rahe the. Chachu Chakkar Dhari never used to sit near the angithi. He always used to sit away from it in a blanket wrapped around him, with the support of the wall. He asked Chachu Kisso, " Vo Garde da ke haal hai? Bare din hoie gaye, aya nahi" Chachu Chakkar Dhari always called Raju Bhai as 'Gard'. Kisso Chachu ke jabab dene se pehle, Dinu Tau bolia, "Mein taan Sunia Hai ki Raju aajkal dhai-dhai rupai gaj ke lathe ka pyjama pehanta hai". " Mein taan eh sochi bhe nahi sakada". In the morning, my first complaint to my Dadi was to get lathe da pyjama which I never got until I myself became earning hand!
I do not exactly remember as to how I went to Delhi. I remember Chachi Dano used to go to the market for buying rations from a shop in Pahar Ganj where Bhai had hired a room. On the way to the shop, Chachi would instruct me to cross this or that way because there was a haddi showing up there.
Today on the eve of getting Laka's Tragdi back and thereby avoiding bad omen, the atmosphere in the house was more like a festival and people sat around the angithi for a longer time than before. They were fully occupied listening to songs and enjoying themselves. Even today the echo of the songs, those were on the air in everyday program, can still be felt. Like....Laude vele Mahi Auna// Mann Pakawan Kanak da// Andar Jawana, Bahar Jawana, Lal Chuda Thanakda// and like Tainu Diangi panj Vatashe ki Munshi Khat Likh de// then Bajre da Sitta ni Assan Talli te Marodia......
Laka was now grown up and I also had already come to this world by then. I am about six years younger than Bhai.
At Ladori, I always used to follow bhai where ever he went out side the house. I, like a Dumshalla, followed him always and, therefore, sometimes, he used to be irritated of my habit of following him all the time. One day, in the main entrance of the house, on the steps, we both met. Bhai was going somewhere. He looked as if he was angri. Phir Bhai ko gussa aya aur usne meri peeth par jor se ek Guthu mara aur wahan se bhaag gaya. Mujhe itni jor se dard hua ki paanch second tak mera saans ruk gaya. Voh guthu mein aaj tak nahi bhula!
Now we had grown little bigger. After doing matriculation, perhaps, Bhai went to Delhi to his Promilla Mausi for further studies, I presumed.
Once in winter season, all were sitting around the angithi. Few outsiders were also there and guppen lara rahe the. Chachu Chakkar Dhari never used to sit near the angithi. He always used to sit away from it in a blanket wrapped around him, with the support of the wall. He asked Chachu Kisso, " Vo Garde da ke haal hai? Bare din hoie gaye, aya nahi" Chachu Chakkar Dhari always called Raju Bhai as 'Gard'. Kisso Chachu ke jabab dene se pehle, Dinu Tau bolia, "Mein taan Sunia Hai ki Raju aajkal dhai-dhai rupai gaj ke lathe ka pyjama pehanta hai". " Mein taan eh sochi bhe nahi sakada". In the morning, my first complaint to my Dadi was to get lathe da pyjama which I never got until I myself became earning hand!
I do not exactly remember as to how I went to Delhi. I remember Chachi Dano used to go to the market for buying rations from a shop in Pahar Ganj where Bhai had hired a room. On the way to the shop, Chachi would instruct me to cross this or that way because there was a haddi showing up there.
At that time, I did not understand that Bhai is struggling with his life because I was too small to understand all that Bhai had big big books. He was preparing for the Prabhakar examination at that time. I still remember a book, may be a guide. There were several books and magazines there. Bhai did his graduation after Prabhakar and MA in Hindi. It was the time when Bhai developed interest in Jyotish.
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