Personal: The Office Boy and Tipping Point of our Friendship

Just a month into my new job and our office got shifted. At the new place we had a highly professional and smart housekeeping service. It caused some job cuts for old office boys and admin staff. They all were temporary hires and hence they did not really mind. They would shift to some other office. One of those office boys, or peons, was asked to be in the new office for a month, just as a backup till the infrastructure is stabilized. I being a new employee had not interacted with him much in the old office. But in the new office this changed.

Since he did not really have much work in the new office, he started hanging around the Billiards (game) room. He also started playing and learnt quickly. I also played regularly and hence now I was able to interact with him and got to know a bit about him. I noticed a few good qualities in him. First, he had a very friendly nature. He did not get annoyed or agitated at all and spoke politely no matter what. You can say that this was expected from him since he was an office boy. Still, it appeared to me that this was his nature and not just a behavior to display in office. He was also a very quick learner. Most of us were just learning to play but he proved himself to be the fastest learner. When I struggled, he would help me. He treated all of us with great respect. I also noticed that he used to feel a big awkward in the new super-luxurious office since he was the only office boy and appeared a bit out of place. But I used to talk to him and greeted him with a smile and a few words whenever we came across. If I was sitting on a chair and he would come to talk, I would ask him to sit down too. I noticed that he had become a bit more open and comfortable with me than he was with others. I think I treated him in a friendly manner. And then one fine day, something caught my attention.  

One day, perhaps during third week in this office, I saw him doing some housekeeping work in the office. And I felt offended. I ignored the feeling. After an hour or two, again I saw him moving some items from here to there in the office and I felt offended. For a moment I wondered why I was feeling offended. I noticed that the feeling was similar to the feeling one would get if one’s own family member or a close friend would be made to do some small work below one’s dignity. At that moment, I realized that he had truly become my “friend” and that’s why I was feeling offended!

I would have seen him doing small chores many times before and very regularly. But I never noticed; forget about feeling offended. But after playing billiards with him and interacting with him for a few weeks, I had developed a bond of friendship with him. And that very day was the “Tipping Point” of our friendship. That day onward whenever I saw him doing manual work, I would feel “hurt” a bit. Although on the surface I kept ignoring the feeling as if nothing happened.

In a week’s time, his last day in office arrived. A couple of days before the last day, I thought about giving him some money as a parting gift. But then it did not feel right. I had treated him like an equal all along and if I gave him money, I would display that I considered him lower than me. Therefore, I thought it was not a good idea. But then he was going away forever, and he was from a poor family. So I decided to go ahead with my initial plan. On the last day, near the end of they day, I got chance when both of us were playing billiards and I gave him 500 rupees asking him to buy for himself something with it since it was his last day in our office. He declined to take the note and kept saying that it was not needed. I said that I knew it was not needed and yet wanted him to buy anything for himself or his family with it. Then he took it and kept it in his pocket. It was a relief for me.

After 10 minutes he said, “Sir, I think despite this whole time I don’t know your name”. I was a new employee and there was no surprise that he would not know my name. I told him my name.

After a while when I was leaving for the day, he was just entering the office, perhaps to say final good bye to whoever still remained inside. He said good bye to me and we had a handshake. At this moment I saw a bit of moisture in his eyes. After all he must have got emotional while saying good bye to this office where he was working since long and where he must have made some good memories. Even temporary workers get attached to a workplace and its people – it is only human to do so. But I know that boys like him who come from a poor family seldom show emotion. Hence that hint of a moisture that glittered in his eyes got captured in my memory.

I asked him to come to the office some time in future just to see us all. As I left office for the day and the weekend follows, from coming Monday he won’t be around in the office. He won’t be in the billiards room displaying his new learnings. Perhaps at his new place of work he won’t get to play billiards and he would miss these days when he loved the game so much. Good bye, dear friend. Stay blessed always wherever you will be. May life be kind on you.

Rahul Tiwary

History: Is this the Right Time to Normalize Nathuram Godse?

Picture: Nathuram Godse  (1910-1949)

Member of Parliament Sadhvi Pragya Thakur has landed herself into a controversy by calling late Nathuram Godse a “patriot”. During a debate on Special Protection Group (SPG) amendment bill, a DMK member A. Raja quoted Nathuram Godse’s statement on why he had killed Mahatma Gandhi. At this point, Sadhvi Pragya interrupted and said, “you cannot give example of a patriot”. Even earlier this year when Kamal Hassan had called Nathuram Godse as “India’s first terrorist was a Hindu”, Sadhvi Pragya had protested it and called Godse a patriot. From the pattern we can see that she ends up speaking for Godse in “reaction” when she hears something against him.

While her complete opinion on Nathuram Godse may not be available, the very choice of the term “patriot” attributed to Nathuram Godse appeared to be so provocative to our politicians that they created an uproar and mainstream media followed them. Although Sadhvi Pragya Thakur has apologized, her party, the BJP, is in no mood to let her go. As a punishment, she has been dropped from a parliamentary panel and it is being said that she can be also sacked from other party positions or from the BJP itself. All these decisions point out to the fact that speaking about Nathuram Godse is a “taboo” in India. It is a taboo even in the 21^st century when we are regularly being taught to “speak out” on other taboo subjects like menstruation, our body, sexual offenses, or men’s mental wellbeing. It seems India is ready to be liberated on all other subjects barring Nathuram Godse. It should make us think if our position is rational at all.

The reason why Nathuram Godse became a taboo is very simple. Nathuram Godse is not only the name of a person but also an idea. The idea will get very clear if we follow the sequence of events.

After World War-II, the British were ready to leave India. They wanted to transfer the power to an establishment which could rule and take the country forward. Muhammed Ali Jinnah was demanding a separate nation for Muslims. The other Indian leaders had two choices: (1) Not agree to Jinnah and delay independence, or (2) Agree to Jinnah leading to partition and get “instant” independence. Despite the risk, Indian leaders decided to go for the second option. The idea of having Pakistan in two pieces – one in East and other in West part of India, and to move millions of people across borders was so illogical that today we can certainly question the wisdom of our leaders of those times. Since India was being divided because of demand from minority Muslims, the atmosphere was naturally too much communally charged. Communal riots followed the partition and up to about 2 million (20 Lakh) people died. Thousands of women were raped or abducted. It was an apocalypse.

While people were naturally angry at the wisdom of Indian leaders, and angrier at the Muslim community whose demand for separate nation caused this massacre, there was one man who decided to do something about it. He used his own independent thought and came to the conclusion that Congress Party leaders must be held accountable for making such a reckless, selfish and disastrous decision which led to Lakhs of people being massacred and disgraced. He decided that as the most powerful person in the Congress Party, Mahatma Gandhi should be held accountable for this. And he also decided on the quantum of punishment – it should be no less than a death punishment. Therefore, Nathuram Godse acted as lawyer, judge and police – all by himself - and gave death penalty to the person responsible for murder and humiliation of millions of Indians. Even if such a case was run in any international court, the punishment for death and disgrace of 2 million innocent people would definitely be a death penalty.

Now this “idea” that a common citizen can “judge” the powerful politicians and messiahs of the elite and can even carry out the punishment like Robin Hood was an idea that was so provocative to the government. If more people started doing that, there would be complete anarchy all around. Especially at that point of time in India’s history when the nation had just got freedom and was busy trying to stand on its feet and wounds from partition were yet to heal, our leaders decided to shut this whole topic down. It did not matter that Nathuram Godse had given his arguments in the court of law and tried to explain his rational position behind his act. The book based on his speech was banned. And Indian parliament banned the word “Godse” as unparliamentary. Soon after Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi, riots happened in Maharashtra against the caste/community Godse belonged to. Several people from his community changed their surnames to avoid being lynched for being a “Godse”. Godse and Nathuram Godse had become a complete taboo. No one wanted to talk about Nathuram Godse. No one was allowed to talk about him.

But if we look at the rationale behind making Godse a taboo; it appears to be more of a situational tactic. India was then a nascent nation whose priorities were communal harmony and self-reliance. Hence it sacrificed freedom of speech and a rational discourse by banning references to Nathuram Godse. With the passage of time there was no longer any clear threat from the idea of Nathuram Godse. In 1989, Pradip Dalvi’s Marathi play Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy told the story of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination from the perspective of Nathuram Godse. In year 2000, Kamal Hassan made a movie called “Hey Ram” about assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. In the year 2015, the word “Godse” was finally removed from the list of banned words in Indian parliament after a complaint by Shiv Sena MP from Nashik, Mr. Hemant Tukaram Godse who asked a very valid question about how could a “surname” be banned in Indian parliament! But somehow when Sadhvi Pragya Thakur calls Nathuram Godse a “patriot”, it sounds too provocative to be accepted. And there are reasons behind this.

I think the reason why Sadhvi Pragya Thakur is shunted after her comment in Parliament is that we can’t switch from a “taboo” to “appreciation” abruptly. Indian society has not been given a chance to discuss about Nathuram Godse yet. Indian artists, playwrights or movie makers have not been given enough chance to explore the psyche of Nathuram Godse. Because Godse has been banned from public discourse for so long, Indian public is not much aware about him or his ideas. Hence when someone like Sadhvi Pragya calls him a “patriot”, it is something which is difficult to be digested by politicians and people alike.

Therefore we must reflect if this is the right time to remove the taboo around Godse and to “normalize” him and his ideas. In this age of social media and free flows of ideas and thoughts, Indian public is mature enough to understand, accept, differentiate and disagree while maintaining the needed calm. Indian politicians and political parties should stop being so touchy about Nathuram Godse. Let movies, art and literature explore Godse and his ideas along with those of Mahatma Gandhi too. If we allow this, there will be less risk of misleading or false propaganda being passed for or against Nathuram Godse.

As a bottom line, I think it is high time we must remove the taboo around Godse for once and forever.

- Rahul Tiwary

Nature: Delhi as City of Birds

It seems Delhi is the city of birds. Everyday I come across flocks of birds at different places. Perhaps this time when the winter has started is special for birds because I am seeing lot of birds’ activities these days. Here are some of the pictures I took using my phone:

(Above) Found a man feeding Mynahs and Sparrows with Haldiram Namkeen

While people from all other major Indian cities keep complaining that in the name of birds they are now left with only pigeons who make their balconies dirty; Delhi is blessed in this regard. I have always found sparrows in many areas in Delhi/NCR. And I see Indian Mynahs in such large numbers in Delhi. 

(Above) Just see how these birds are flocking to eat (junk food).

It was a lovely scene. Apart from Mynahs and Sparrows I could also spot a few Crows. 

(Above) A beautiful Mynah and few little Sparrows

(Above) Birds sitting on light posts in Delhi

(Above) Birds sitting on a wall in Delhi

This last picture is so special. I came across these birds which are all Indian Mynahs, at a place where hundreds of these birds had gathered and were most probably discussing some matters. In a group of a few Mynahs several appeared like they were fighting or arguing. There was no apparent reason why hundreds of Mynahs had gathered at a single place. It looked like a “Panchayat”. Sometimes even Crows can be seen to gather at a place or on some tree and make lots of noise. 

Well, after all I am very happy to see these birds around me. Hope these birds keep Delhi as their home always. 

Rahul Tiwary

Photography: Human Traffic Vs Birds

Humans stuck on a “fly”over in traffic while Birds watching from a wall

© Rahul Tiwary | Delhi 

Philosophy: Women and Their Love for Anything ‘Money’

Women and their special affection to money is legendary. It is seen in their daily life (e.g. when women would ‘bargain’ at shops more than men do), in the many decisions that women make in their life (e.g. decision to choose their life partner) and it has been the subject of literature and popular fiction in all ages. As per the popular position, men love beauty (since they are seeking a mate who would bear their offspring; and beauty is often a reflection of heath) while women love money (since they are seeking protection and safety; which men with money can easily provide). This aspect can be seen to play most dominant role in relation to the matters of matrimony. 

It is widely believed that if a woman is given two choices, one of a very fine man with scarcity of money Vs an uninteresting man with lots of money, majority of women would choose the second choice rather than the first. The only women deviating from this trend would be teenage girls (who got no wisdom) or women who already got too much money themselves. 

So why are women so attracted to money? 

As per my theory, women loved money because they seldom had it. All through our history, inheritance laws did not allow women a share of family wealth; and they were not allowed to take up professions. And then the society was dominated by men. All these factors caused women to depend on men for money. Hence it made sense for a woman to choose a man who had more chance to liberally grant her money (was rich); than a man who would struggle at it.

All through the history, we see women trying to gain access to money. This is seen in the practice of women being greedy for gold, precious metals and jewelry. Since women historically did not have access to money in the form of currencies, they chose to hoard jewelry as a form of having access to money. This is also seen in the practice where mothers would love their sons more than their daughters; since sons would inherit the family money and hence after death of her husband the woman would have to depend on her son. So it made sense to pamper the sons a bit more (than daughters). 

Now some theories have been popularized by modern management gurus promoting women as better managers etc, mainly because since ages women have been managing their households. This concept of matriarch having keys of kitchen and dictating terms to daughters-in-law and other servants is true for resource management and task management points of view but not for money management. In agri-based societies, money in the form of cash was scarce. Men were providers of resources while women managed the resources inside the homes. This equipped women with better skills in things like resource or task management; but never money management. Women historically never had experience of managing money, forget about either investing it or profiting from it. This explains why from Warren Buffet to Jhunjhunwala – most big investors have been males. Because of this, in general women are bad at finance and investment since they never dealt in these areas before. And since women are bad in finance, they would want to choose men who are good in finance. And the more money one has, it is a sign of being better with money. 

But there is a silver lining. Now that women are taking up professions, doing jobs and earning money themselves, their priorities are bound to change. They no longer need to depend on men for having access to money and hence they would dare to choose men who are not necessarily rich but have other desirable qualities. 

- Rahul Tiwary

Travelogue: Azim Khan Tomb in Delhi

Azim Khan was a general of the Mughal Army. His tomb was commissioned in 17th century. It is built in the typical square shaped structure with a crowned dome coated with plaster and decorated with carvings.

Rahul Tiwary | November 2019

Travelogue: Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Delhi

Mehrauli Archaeological Park is a historical archaeological area spread over 200 acre in Mehrauli, Delhi, adjacent to Qutub Minar. It consists of over 100 historically significant monuments including the ruins of Lal Kot built by Tomar Rajputs in 1060 CE and architectural relics of subsequent period e.g. rule of Khalji dynasty, Tughlaq dynasty, Lodhi dynasty, Mughal Empire, and the British Raj.

Qutub Minar can be seen above while a Rose Garden was just planted (currently in November) and garden should be laden with roses in this winter

Pillar showing directions of prominent places to visit inside the park

Children playing Cricket inside the park (despite boards telling sports is not allowed inside the park; the whole park was full of kids playing Cricket in several grounds)

Nature’s beauty

A tomb (above)

Jamali Kamali Tomb and Mosque:

Kamali. "Jamali" was the alias given to Shaikh Fazlu'llah, also known as Shaikh Jamali Kamboh or Jalal Khan, a Sufi saint who lived during the pre-Mughal dynasty rule of the Lodi's, a period from the rule of Sikander Lodi to the Mughal Dynasty rule of Babur and Humayun. Kamali was an unknown person but associated with Jamali and his antecedents have not been established. Their names are tagged together as "Jamali Kamali" for the mosque as well as the tomb since they are buried adjacent to each other. The mosque and the tomb were constructed in 1528-1529, and Jamali was buried in the tomb after his death in 1535.

This gate above is made of single sheet of stone but is carved in a manner such that it gives a visual image of several gates appearing behind gates (but actually it is just a piece of art and there is no door in it)

Again a piece of art in stone 

Back side of Jamali Kamali Tomb (above)

A mosque where I found about 10 religious people offering namaj inside this building

Ruins 

Rajon ki Baoli / Gandhak Ki Baoli:

Rajon ki Baoli is a famous stepwell in Mehrauli Archaeological Park of Delhi. It was commissioned by Daulat Khan in 1506 CE, an administrator of the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.

Mughal Era Tombs:

Some ruins:

Tomb of Quli Khan:

Quli Khan was a foster brother of the Akbar. Born to Maham Anga, the foster mother of the emperor Akbar, Quli Khan was a general in Akbar’s army.

Rahul Tiwary | November 2019

Festivals: Greetings on Kartik Purnima

Today is Kartik Purnima, the Hindu festival of holy bath (snaan), charity (daan) and religious fervor. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day (purnima) of waxing moon period (Shukla Paksh) of Kartik month (as per Hindu calendar). 

Origins of the Kartik Purnima Festival

Kartik Purnima is celebrated in equal zeal by all Hindus and the origins of this festival are related to both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu – the two major traditions of Hinduism.

It is said that Bhagwan Vishnu goes into Yogic Sleep (Yog Nidra) for four months and on this very day he wakes up and hence on this day all gods (Devtas) celebrat Diwali by lightening earthen lamps (diyas) as well as doing aarti. Therefore, all devotees of Lord Vishnu celebrate this day by doing vrata, lighting diyas, and doing charity.

On this day, Lord Shiva had killed a demon called Tripurasura who had greatly troubled the world and hence gods (Devtas) celebrated this day as Diwali by lighting earthen lamps (diyas). Remembering the same, Hindus celebrate this day as a festival.

The Custom of Holy Dip or Bath

On this day, taking a holy dip in Ganga and other sacred rivers is considered a sacred act. Thousands of Hindus go to Haridwar and other holy river banks (ghaat) to take a holy dip on this day.

On this day, moon shines the brightest in the year. It is believed that if one takes a dip or bath at the holy rivers on this day, one benefits from the effect of moon which falls on the river water. Holy bath starts at around 4 am in the morning and continues whole day as per Hindu calendar.

The practice of Holy bath on Kartik Purnima is one of the most ancient Hindu practices still going on since thousands of years. Next holy bath will happen on the Makar Sankranti day.

The Custom of Charity (daan)

Giving alms or doing charity is considered sacred on this day. It is believed that if one gives daan on this day then one remains prosperous all through the year.

Custom of Tulsi Puja

On this day, Tulsi (a plant of religious and medical significance) is also worshipped and earthen lamps are offered to it in the evening. Hindus believe that lighting earthen lamps near Tulsi plant in the evening brings good fortune, health and prosperity to the family.

Other Names of the Festival

Kartik Purnima is also called Ganga Dashahra or Dev Deepawli.

References: News19, Hindustan, AmarUjala, AajTak

- Rahul Tiwary

Travelogue: Ahinsa Sthal Jain Temple in Delhi

Ahinsa Sthal is a Jain temple located in Mehrauli, Delhi. The main deity of the temple is Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara (human spiritual guide). A magnificent statue of Tirthankara Mahāvīra is installed here.

Lord Mahavir idol at the top of a hill-like structure 

Sunset as seen from the top

Scene from the ground level

Rahul Tiwary | November 2019

Travelogue: Sulabh International Museum of Toilets in Delhi

There are several types of museums all over the world. But have you so far come across a museum of “toilets”? Yes, you heard it right! There is a museum of toilets, right in the capital city of India.

I noticed this place on Google Maps. And once while I was passing from nearby, I decided to halt and make a visit. This is “Sulabh International Museum of Toilets” and it is situated in Mahavir Enclave area of Delhi. The exact location is too inside the lane so you can either follow the mobile maps or else you can watch for a name-place “Sulabh” written at the entry of the lane in Mahavir Enclave.

The museum consists of pictures from the beginning of history explaining how the toilet system developed in India as well as across the globe. There are real toilet seats, models and other artefacts in the museum. 

At some places in Europe, the toilet seats were “decorated” so that while those were not being used, those appeared like a show-case. 

In the above picture, you can notice a wooden toilet seat in the shape of a “book” near the wall. 

Besides it there is a wooden toilet seat which played a duel role of a table as well as toilet. While it was not used, it served as a table. When used, its upper cover was just detached and then the person could sit over it. It was portable and came handy for places like hunting or war where it was carried. 

Above, you can see a “throne toilet” which was used by a king from Europe. The King had an ailment due to which he took very long time in toilet and could get nature’s call abruptly. Hence he made this throne which was also a toilet. He could sit over it and also attend to discussions and talk to people while using the toilet. 

Several types of toilets and related washroom stuff  from the past.  

“SquatEase” is a new type of toilet developed which is easy on the knees and hence comes to help for people who can’t squat in regular Indian style of toilets. It is an innovative product by a young entrepreneur from Pune. You can read more about it here. 

Toilet and double pits design which needs least maintenance – this is highly rewarded design by Sulabh

A toilet design where the water from hand-wash (left) is used for flush

About Sulabh International

Sulabh International is an India-based social service organization that works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, non-conventional sources of energy, waste management and social reforms through education. The organization counts 50,000 volunteers. Sulabh International is the largest nonprofit organization in India.

Sulabh was founded by Bindeshwar Pathak from Bihar State in 1970 .And have 50,000 volunteers Innovations include a scavenging-free two-pit pourflush toilet (Sulabh Shauchalaya); safe and hygienic on-site human waste disposal technology; a new concept of maintenance and construction of pay-&-use public toilets, popularly known as Sulabh Complexes with bath, laundry and urinal facilities being used by about ten million people every day and generates bio-gas and biofertilizer produced from excreta-based plants, low maintenance waste water treatment plants of medium capacity for institutions and industries. Other work includes setting up English-medium public school in New Delhi and also a network of centres all over the country to train boys and girls from poor families, specially scavengers, so that they can compete in open job market.

Bindeshwar Pathak has been conferred with the 2009 Stockholm Water Prize for his contributions towards his work. Sulabh International awarded Gandhi Peace Prize for year 2016 jointly with Akshaya Patra Foundation in 2019.

An Interesting Question About Indian Vs Western Toilets

While I was seeing the museum, a Sulabh volunteer came and politely asked me to ask any queries if I had so that he could answer. I took the opportunity to ask a question I had in my mind for long time. Why do we see a difference between Indian style of toilet (which needs squatting) and Western style of toilet (which needs sitting)? Why did India and Europe develop different styles of toilet instead of a single style?

His answer was most educating. He explained it as follows:

In ancient Indus Valley Civilization of Mohenjo-daro, people had sitting toilets similar to the Western style of toilets we had today. Here is a picture of the same:

The toilet was made of bricks. People used to sit on it and the waste went down and passed through drains to outside of the city:

Looking at this arrangement, I could not stop but be proud of our ancestors. They had this design in India (Indus valley) around 2500 BC – i.e. about 4500 years ago. Wow!

Afterwards, when Aryan Civilization developed and spread in India, Aryans had a different set of concepts and rules of hygiene. Aryans believed in not “touching” the toilet seat while using the toilet because otherwise germs and disease could spread. Therefore, they did not have sitting toilets but squatted while using toilets.

This practice and concept of hygiene was also adopted by many Islamic regions who still practice it today.

Squatting also had some health benefits, e.g. it helps those who have constipation problem.

Now, this practice had a side-effect. Because of maintaining “distance” from objects while using toilets was necessary, people went to places far away from their homes, for example in the fields or in the forest, to defecate. This developed the practice of what we call “open-defecation”. It was “open” in the sense that it was not inside homes. And current government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fighting against this “open-defecation” practice in rural part of India and has been largely successful.

This practice of keeping defecation at a distance from homes was actually helpful during the old period. In Europe, one of the reasons behind “black deaths” or “bubonic plague” which killed one third of Europe’s population was poor sanitation. People in Europe used pots inside their homes for toilets and lacking alternatives, threw away the waste on the streets, leading to the plague disaster.

Hearing this explanation of the historical background, I felt enlightened. I came back from this museum with more knowledge and empathy about this.

If you are curious enough, do pay a visit to this unique museum of toilets. And praise Sulabh International and its founder.

- Rahul Tiwary