Everybody has his 'Malgudi Days'. There are many memoirs ,but the book written by R.K.Narayan & sketches made by R.K Laxman ,a legend made the book instant hit . Its chief protagonist Swamy ,played in a T.V.serial brought his innocent confusion ,prankish mischievousness to forte. His character was so lovable, so innocent, devising simple solution to gamut of
problems he faced ,transcended oneself to his own childhood . Identifying with the character of Swamy & remembering the hazards of growing up brought sweet & sour taste to the mouth !
Now I was in the process of settling in Siwan . The memory of Jhanjharpur was fading , our Hirna (male deer) & dog 'Kiddy' had died & I was looking at Siwan with boredom & expectation both . My mother got me directly admitted in class IV as she was suffering from the hangover of British days where 1st requirement of an aspirant I.C.S officer is to pass matriculation exam at the age of 11 years ! The headmaster asked her about class 1,2 & 3 & she haughtily replied ' the books of class 1,2 &3 were already taught to him at home only'. I was unconcerned ,only the bag of books on my shoulder became heavy .
One evening Papa came from the office & brought a post card size card written 'PASS' over it & handed to mother telling it is a 'PASS' given to me by Darbar talkies owner. Everybody was happy as it was a source of entertainment in dull & drab environment & Siwan town had three talkies Darbar , Krishna & Paramount. Ma had imitable style of seeing pictures. She went to talkies at 7 to 7.30 in the evening ,finished the 1st show & remaining part of the film in 2nd show . I tugged behind her & gradually we were known to management people & owner's family . Darbar hall had Muslim owner ,so fineness of Muslim courtesy & etiquette was visible every where . Darbar talkies still exist in Siwan town with good marketing complex.
I saw umpteen pictures of those time which had Muslim cultural overtones, such as Mastani, Shahi Chor , Bagdad Ka Cchor,Shahi Bazaar & other weird names of films . In every film fencing , manoeuvring of swords , deep pursuit on horses back, their gallops, rightful prince his beloved , conspiracy done by vamp , villain , interspersed by comedian & songs . It was the common leitmotif of every film
When I watched the films , I thought ,
why not weak rightful protagonists had ample swords & spears to take on the mighties . When my fantasy galloped I thought ,why not spears embedded in Badri Sau compound is given to weak & rightful persons so that they can take revenge These were figment of imagination as fantasy has no boundary !
Lakhan Sau had made Naubat Khana on his gate . !st I didn't understand its utility but afterwards mother told me , the place is for 'Shehnaiwallas' who were supposed to play 'Sehnai' when some auspicious function is to happen at Lakhan Sau's home. I always thought how Sehnaiwalls were supposed to sit in this place & play 'Sehnai'. But in the marriage of Lakhan Sau's son ,how Sehnaiwallas crammed to play 'Sehnai' was treat to watch .After many decades I came to know ,it is known as Nakkar Khana also.
But the most dreadful event was incineration of ' Langoors' on the electric poles just by the side of our house. Siwan town had good population of langoors. They lived in tree grove by the side of rivulet 'Daha'. They were playful ,at the same time destructive. When their assortment moved , every household closed its door . They usually came from Kapil Saus house roof , jumped over the wooden pole & moved toward our side of house . When kerosene lamp was hung from the wooden pole ,it had least chance of any accident for langoors . But wooden pole was removed & concrete pole was put in place for electrification .
Langoors out of habit jumped over the poles same way & kept their hands on naked electric wire .Whenever any langoor was entangled by naked electric wire running over electric poles ,great howling
of sound pierced every where The onlookers of whole locality saw the spectacle of burning of langoor helplessly. It was a pitiable scene & raised great empathy for dying langoor & stupefied look on the faces of other langoors ! .
After sometime burning smell of lanoor spread in our whole house . I didn't know what to do , running from this room to that room to avoid the burning smell . Ultimately I stood under the small place under stairs keeping my nose towards the wall , where our dear Hirna lived & tried to smell lime wash of the bland wall !
Continued..................
Now I was in the process of settling in Siwan . The memory of Jhanjharpur was fading , our Hirna (male deer) & dog 'Kiddy' had died & I was looking at Siwan with boredom & expectation both . My mother got me directly admitted in class IV as she was suffering from the hangover of British days where 1st requirement of an aspirant I.C.S officer is to pass matriculation exam at the age of 11 years ! The headmaster asked her about class 1,2 & 3 & she haughtily replied ' the books of class 1,2 &3 were already taught to him at home only'. I was unconcerned ,only the bag of books on my shoulder became heavy .
One evening Papa came from the office & brought a post card size card written 'PASS' over it & handed to mother telling it is a 'PASS' given to me by Darbar talkies owner. Everybody was happy as it was a source of entertainment in dull & drab environment & Siwan town had three talkies Darbar , Krishna & Paramount. Ma had imitable style of seeing pictures. She went to talkies at 7 to 7.30 in the evening ,finished the 1st show & remaining part of the film in 2nd show . I tugged behind her & gradually we were known to management people & owner's family . Darbar hall had Muslim owner ,so fineness of Muslim courtesy & etiquette was visible every where . Darbar talkies still exist in Siwan town with good marketing complex.
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| Darbar Hall |
When I watched the films , I thought ,
Lakhan Sau had made Naubat Khana on his gate . !st I didn't understand its utility but afterwards mother told me , the place is for 'Shehnaiwallas' who were supposed to play 'Sehnai' when some auspicious function is to happen at Lakhan Sau's home. I always thought how Sehnaiwalls were supposed to sit in this place & play 'Sehnai'. But in the marriage of Lakhan Sau's son ,how Sehnaiwallas crammed to play 'Sehnai' was treat to watch .After many decades I came to know ,it is known as Nakkar Khana also.
But the most dreadful event was incineration of ' Langoors' on the electric poles just by the side of our house. Siwan town had good population of langoors. They lived in tree grove by the side of rivulet 'Daha'. They were playful ,at the same time destructive. When their assortment moved , every household closed its door . They usually came from Kapil Saus house roof , jumped over the wooden pole & moved toward our side of house . When kerosene lamp was hung from the wooden pole ,it had least chance of any accident for langoors . But wooden pole was removed & concrete pole was put in place for electrification .
Langoors out of habit jumped over the poles same way & kept their hands on naked electric wire .Whenever any langoor was entangled by naked electric wire running over electric poles ,great howling
of sound pierced every where The onlookers of whole locality saw the spectacle of burning of langoor helplessly. It was a pitiable scene & raised great empathy for dying langoor & stupefied look on the faces of other langoors ! .
After sometime burning smell of lanoor spread in our whole house . I didn't know what to do , running from this room to that room to avoid the burning smell . Ultimately I stood under the small place under stairs keeping my nose towards the wall , where our dear Hirna lived & tried to smell lime wash of the bland wall !
Continued..................
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