My experience with Truth - II

            It all started when I passed out from college. Dreaming to be something in my life, I started searching my destiny. Unfortunately my state could not fulfill my dreams. Instead of giving opportunities, I found myself stuck in worse condition day by day. I changed jobs until one day I found myself on death bed. I fell ill in one of the most beautiful cities of Gujarat where a London based doctor treated me without charging any fees as in the toughest times of my life when I was suffering from strange illness, my parents too abandoned my treatment as it was still not been identified after consulting many doctors. My uncle and my boss where I was working helped me and I started recovering. Completing financial course from a reputed institute, when I gave my first interview, I was selected but a guy from the same institute left job there and I was rejected as they took revenge of him.

            I got an opportunity to go to the Capital of India where I thought to have a steady job. But it wasn't in my fate. Although I spent my best time of life there, I returned with a heavy heart in 2012 and again started searching job in Gujarat. Not just unemployment is a big issue in Gujarat, but the other conditions are too so bad that one can never imagine. The first thing is the road. As soon as I come out from home, I find the roads in worse conditions. Even the newest bike loses it's charm within a month. You may find different noises in your vehicle that can never be cured by a specialist engineer. I have been seeing these all since my birth. Nothing is changed nor improved. By the roadside, an underground water pipeline goes which is supplied in the main tank of the city. People use the water for their daily use. But on many spots, the pipeline is broken badly where lakhs litre of water is being wasted and no one cares about it. Now I need not explain how water is important in our life as Arvind Kejriwal (Shree Arvind Kejriwal) has won election in Delhi by offering free water in Capital! Once they dug this road and left it. Somehow the pipeline got a leakage there and water started filling the dug space. Moreover a big pig fell in the night and died in it. Nobody removed the pig and it was remained there until it dissolved completely in the water. The entire city drank the unhygienic water for many days. Even after the incident, it was not repaired for many days. It was just an example of the roads. I am not making any issue about the Nagar Palika which is using the barricades of Surat Municipal Corporations and the Traffic department, as on one occasion I saw near station a barricade of Maharashtra Police indicating "THAMBA"

            As I started searching job returning from Delhi, my parents were wishing to get job in Guj. anywhere as they could have my physical support. I went to many placement agencies but all were offering job with a package which was 50% of what I was getting in Delhi. Strange! How come it becomes the most developed state? I applied through the news papers but nobody replied. After a long search, I went in one of the reputed cellular company where I though I was almost selected, but the girl who took the interview denied me as I told her to commute on bike and she was worried if I would use bike. Of course late night highways are dangerous. Vapi is the city which has given me much pain since my first job. This time I was getting the worse experience there which I never expected. I saw a walk in ad in a reputed Jewellery showroom which was opening its new branches in Vapi and they needed more employees there. I went to the shop and waited for my turn to face an interview. Many candidates were arrived and they were spending much time in their sessions. Soon I went there. As usual the interview started and I was asked normal questions. He didn't offered me the job of an accountant but he asked me for a job of a salesman. All I had to do was to represent jewellery to the costumers arrive in the shop. Something happened. Even I was not expecting. He asked me about my past and he wanted to know about my job. I told him that I was in Delhi and I returned Gujarat as I found no opportunity to move ahead in carrier there.

He said, "Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon...."

"Look I have been watching on national news channels about these cities and nothing makes me feel good about it. The culture of these cities, the behaviour of the people you know. Women are not safe at all." He added.

"Yes. I agree." I replied. (16th December incident was yet to be happened)

He said, "Look Chintan, the thing is very clear now. May be you have known that I cannot hire you as my employee here. You belong to Delhi and the ratio of women in my showroom is higher than the males. I cannot take risk keeping you around them. They will be unsecured."

            I thought to give him a hard slap on his cheeks as my heart came in my mouth and the earth slipped under my feet at the time he spoke that. I was wondering that he was working with such reputed company which has not only a jewellery show room but also having units in almost every field. And being an employee of that company, he was telling these things to me! I was stunned. I denied his offer. Although he gave me an opportunity (with 50% of Delhi Salary), I finally rejected. The city has given me worse pain and I decided not to ever go there again. I finally came to Mumbai which was my dream since when I was a kid but I scared of locals here. But God makes everything possible. On an occasion of Ganesha festival, I asked lord with trunk to call me in his city and I came here. The turning point came in my life when I saw my living God Sachin Tendulkar in the Wankhede Stadium. My life changed suddenly and he filled my life with happiness. I dedicate my life to him. If I am happy, he is the only reason behind it.

            The moral is clear, what it looks, is only an illusion. People who consider a human has most power, actually the weakest person. The people who do not even kill a mosquito, turn their minds in such a way. It shows in which yuga we are living in. Developing only one city, no one can claim that he has developed the entire state. Gujarat is not developed and it is still not being developed. I will not just give an example of my own younger brother who is a college topper and unemployed since last six months but I am giving example of lakhs of young people who want to get a good opportunity but they are failing in Gujarat because of lack of opportunities. Model may have been developed, but it was developed where the world eyed, where people of the country eyed and so they are expecting something different this time in the country making the base of Gujarat. But it is not real. Reality is even bitter. Strange but true. You have no right to praise Gujarat if you are a Gujarati and living outside the state. I am proud to be a Gujarati only because of Dayaben (Disha Vakani) who is a Gujarati and spreads smile on many faces. I can proudly say, I am too a Gujarati because she is a Gujarati, too.

My experience with truth.

                A city where even an unknown becomes your best friend, Mumbai has given me large group of friends. When I started my journey here, I got huge circle of Gujaratis in evening local from Churchgate. Most of them are elders. While in the morning local, there are all young ones around. Not Gujaratis, but they are Rajasthanis & Bengalis. It has been 8 months since when I am traveling with them, yet I do not know their names! But our relationship is so strong that we even hug each other when we meet outside the local train co- incidentally.

                In morning local, there is a Muslim uncle, who catches moving local and keeps a window seat for me. He is Gujarati but I don’t even know his name. We talk with each other by raising hands! Couples of young guys are Pradeep & Kamal who work with STAR India Pvt Ltd in Parel. Pradip owns Samsung Galaxy Mega, keeps himself busy playing in Temple Run (He’s the guy who showed me that stupid question of pouring lemon juice in vagina to avoid pregnancy and I laughed out madly). His typical habit is to popping out his tongue when there is too hot in local and fan isn’t working. Kamal is very slim and I often offer him to sit in my lap till Andheri.  In the evening, our group has been demolished after the diamond units transferred to the BKC and all the Gujaratis shifted there from Charni Road sea face building. Although they are having toughest journey right now, we meet them occasionally. Only two brothers left with us in the evening. Hiteshbhai & Sanjaybhai who live in Mira Road. To me, both of them are just like a father as they are elder to me and they make me smile a lot. There is pretty close relationship between the brother duos. At first sight, you can never judge them as brothers. They are quite freely and even discuss all matters with each other when they are alone. There is no sign of disputes between them, too. Therefore all the other commuters who travel with us respect them truly. They both make fun and make me laugh a lot and therefore I like the duo brothers very much.

                Something was happened couple of weeks ago. It was Monday and as usual we caught local from Churchgate. As I was tired, I slept from Mumbai Central. Hiteshbhai even said, “Chintan slept today.” Train just left the platform and he received call from his wife about his father who fell on ground and not breathing. It was normal to him as his father was already ill and asked his wife to call doctor for check up. His doctor arrived there and declared him dead. In Bandra his wife called again and told him what doctor said. He told his wife not to worry for him as she was alone at home and scared. He suggested calling another Gujarati doctor to consult. Meanwhile he told his brother about the incident. Bandra to Andheri, the local was running as slow as an ant on fast track. As soon as Andheri arrived, he got another confirmation that his father was dead due to heart attack and there was nothing left. Hiteshbhai informed brother and he started calling the close relatives to inform. As he had lost his father I was worried if he would break down. He was calling his relatives and I saw his hand was trembling. Sanjaybhai was not speaking single word until they got down in Mira road. Hiteshbhai was still having a light smile on his face while talking to us. He told us that He would not be satisfied until He would see him with his own eyes. Losing a father is not a normal thing. Although his father was ill, but remained stronger till the last day. He died on Monday. On Saturday Hiteshbhai told him to go out Nashik for a tour. Then his father said, “I am leaving you all within two days.” No wonder Hiteshbhai took it as a prank, it went true. The local was still running slowly and the patience of both brothers was on examination. They both left us in Mira Road.

               

                We went to pray for their dad on the next day. Our group of local went Mira Road and headed towards his home. Soon they joined their duties too. Couple of days ago, Hiteshbhai has come. It was 31^st and he was alone. I was standing in local and he offered me seat in his lap. Although I denied, he pulled me by my hand and made me sit there. He hugged me and put his head on my shoulder. It was an emotional moment but I controlled myself. Hiteshbhai is someone who calls me loudly in the busiest station of Churchgate, he hugs me often and he wishes me every time for the most beautiful girl who would came in my life very soon and fill my life with happiness. My well wisher lost his dad and instead of living in pain, he remains happy as he knows we are humans and one day we all have to leave.

When women cross their limits...

                I am amazed how Dr Shubhagi Parker, dean of KEM hospital facing ordeals in her hospital complex for last many months. Bindu’s incident was just over and another one took place in the laboratory where 12 women employees charged the elder lab technician Ashok for sexual harassment. The police filed case against the employee who was working with hospital for last thirty three years.

                The incident took place about a month ago when his colleague women told the hospital authorities about the behavior of Ashok, the senior lab technician. They all alleged that he would abuse them verbally and took their pictures in his mobile phone. On their complaint, the authorities immediately took steps against him and charged him with sexual assaults. The strangest thing is that yesterday he has been acquitted from all sexual harassment charges by the inquiry commission. He was left innocent and the police withdrew the case. They found no proof against him about sexual harassment and they could not even find any picture of women captured in his mobile phone. After the enquiry commission freed him from all charges, Shobha, his wife was too there and they both broke down seeing each other in the court premises. Why not? They had the toughest time spent over a month.

                Shobha was happy in her 18 year married life with Ashok with two sons ageing 13 & 15 year old. He was loyal and hard working man who was also an idol for his own kids. Last month suddenly she read news in newspapers about her husband who was charged with sexual assaults. She broke down and could not even believe the news as her husband had never discussed about this issue with her. As soon as it was published, the neighbors started visiting her home and asked what actually happened. She was receiving calls from her relatives and even being asked the same questions. After the incident, she had also kept her cellphone switched off.  She trusted her husband and she thought he could never do such things in life. He loved his job and respected all. For a month they had hardly spoken to each other after the case was filed until he was relieved. She ignored him but she felt that he was still an innocent. Yesterday many things he revealed in the court premises. He told the court that the all women who framed sexual harassment charges took revenge with him. He further informed that women often come late in lab and he warned them to inform their late coming habits to the management but he never did because they were his colleagues. All those women came late and noted down wrong timings in muster. Few of them also put attendance in muster on the previous day when she remained absent for whole day. He was tired of their indiscipline and he was about to make a complaint to the administrative department of the KEM Hospital. He also told them that he would take snaps of them signing the register with timings. Everything was revealed and it was confirmed even by all 12 women. Dr Shubhangi is happy now to see his senior employee relived. Even she was not able to believe. But Shobha, who faced this strangest ordeal, is yet not able to forgive her husband. And therefore the couple broke down after the hearing.

                It was happy ending for Ashok but this is something which he could never ever forget in his life. We all respect woman I believe but they must stay in a limit. A charge like “Sexual harassment” is almost similar to rape. If they will charge men with the same just to take revenge, it will be the most shameful act by which they will lose their own credibility in the society.

One year of brutality - What we gained and what we lost?

            It has been a year of Delhi medical student's gang rape and brutality shown by the rapists which highlighted India in the entire world last year. A 22 year bright student of medical just like Aruna Shanbaug came Delhi to fulfill her dreams, got her life suddenly changed on 16th December 2012 when 6 men kidnapped her and brutally gang raped her in a moving bus on coldest roads of the capital. She was raped thrice even in complete unconscious condition. One of them, supposed to be a minor, inserted a long iron rod deep into her vagina after raping her which caused very serious internal injuries and bleeding. I wasn’t aware of the incident until my Delhi residing friend SK sent me Whats App contents on 21^st December 2012. It was Friday and I was reaching home on my way. It was tough for me. I was trembling and I could not able to eat that night. Even on the second day when I went office, I could not able to eat anything in lunch time. I was feeling uneasiness and thinking how the girl was survived. On the same day I reached my hometown and saw the news channels covering reports around the India Gate and all over the country. The protest against the rapists were broke out in entire nation while the bedridden 22 year old victim was still alive, fighting against death and promising mom to fulfill her dream to be a doctor. But doctors reported about her internal injuries were quite serious and she would never consume food again in her life. If she would be fine, she would have to survive on liquid only. She wanted to live. Her amazing powers even made the doctors of AIIMS dazzled. She was taking the ventilator off from her face and trying to breathe herself. She succeeded but the medical news were still coming about her status which was nothing but “Stable yet critical”.

            The day when she was taken to the Singapore hospital, I hoped that everything would be fine and she would survive. But soon the news arrived on Sunday morning, on 29^th December 2012, she was declared dead by the medical officials of Singapore based hospital. She lost her life due to multiple organ failure. It was all over for the medical student who was fighting against death, wanted to be a doctor, wanted to punish the rapists….

        

    She was no more and left people in a deep pain. I broke my week long fast on Sunday which I had obtained starting from Monday, till the Saturday until I slept. I just prayed for the girl who was the bravest and under the recovery. I was hoping that the prayers of entire nation would work but it didn’t. Not even my week long fasts which I did for her sacred soul. It was all over. For a while I thought why did I pray to God when he is not here? If he was here, the woman would have been easily survived, all the accused would have been hanged and a citizen would think one lakh time before committing the heinous crime like rape. But it wasn’t all over after even after the incident. The news came all around the country about the gang rape, rape, molestations and the brutalities…

·         Girl was gang raped in moving car on the roads of Delhi…

·         Girl was thrown acid on her face on the Bandra Station, later succumbed to her injuries. Remember Preeti Rathi? (Click here to read story of Preeti Rathi)

·         Girl molested in local train early morning.

·         US citizen Michelle’s throat slit and her cell phone stolen by culprit in the first class compartment of local

·         Women journalist gang raped in Shakti Mill

·         Telephone operator working outside Shakti Mill was too gang raped

·         Woman died falling from local when thief tried to pull her purse & snatch her wrist watch in Central Railways who succumbed to injuries leaving behind only 20 year old daughter. Remember Aarti Gholapkar??? (Click here to read story of Aarti Gholapkar)

·         Mother was caught selling the virginity of her 13 years old daughter merely in 1 Lakh Rs in Mumbai

·         HIV positive 45 year old man raped his 7 year old nephew in Mumbai

·         Unmarried girl threw two dead fetuses in Bathroom in Vasai.

·         Vadapav seller threw acid on ex girlfriend’s face.

·         84 year old men and 70 year old women tried to break virginity of 4 year old daughter of their neighbor when she was regularly playing with them.

·         Teenager gang raped on Hindu new year occasion.

·         Recently, 14 years old girl commits suicide after being a victim of Social networks.

·         Woman attacked in ATM machine in Bangalore.

·         Similarly woman gang raped and her eyes were removed

·         Tarun Tejpal

·         Supreme court retired judge molested woman

            With all those different news, we are hoping that one day everything will be fine. Some incidents even make us proud. When a daughter of an auto driver becomes a Chartered Accountant appearing top and a girl living in Kamathipura, which a heaven of prostitutes, flies to London for further studies in chemistry, I hope when I will have my daughter, I will be able to let her play in the garden alone. But it seems almost impossible. With the death of the medical student, I decided to keep on my fasts continue on each 29^th of a month, not to pray to God but to protest the incidents like those, to protest the system, to protest myself for not being able to stop all these nonsense and to protest the God who is here and silently watching the show.

"I hope you are fine somewhere. I am happy that you left this cruel country where humanity is dead and rape has become a profession more than a crime. I wish when you will smile, every woman living here will smile and one day they will be able to live free and truly independent life..."