Flag Unfurl

IN 1966 , I was able to understand the values of the flag, obviously our Indian flag. At 4.30 morning, my mother was woke up on 15th August, and on 26th January. I used to put a big one utensil on her CHULA to make a tea for dozens of people on that BIG BARTAN. In fact, 26th January was not a problem to her than the 15th of August. Since it was a rainy season.

  The fire wood was better now it is “SUKHA LAKADA”   to lit on 26th January. So all my MAMAS used to gather for an  unfurl flag programme at my Buty Prathamik Shala at Sitabuldi, Nagpur. They all used to be a part of “PRABHAT FERI” participants   after a tea at my home. So in January she used asked me to FU-N-KAN (to pass air) through one that Iron Pipe to lit the fire so on the other side of CHOOL their was a WOOL which used to prepare a UPAMA to all that Chaukadi who used to come at my school for flag hosting. All used to be in their DHOTI and BENGALI shirt with a TOPI on head.

 Vinoba Bhave,  Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahrlal Neharu were the ICON of this chaukadi (friends) on these two days without fail, and at one point they used be sure to be their till the end of programme.  That used to get an end by serving a PEDHA (sweet). That sweet should reach the person who came in side of the compound of the school ... not withstanding the fact that he may be any cast, creed, and ones DHARM. By profession also he may be anybody. He was an Indian, a brother first.

ACTUALLY my mamas by profession were TAILER, PAN BHECHNEWALA , DOODH DAIRY WALA, KIRANEWALA, PATANGEALA and rich men were RADIO RAPAIR WALA , MANDAP WALA and so on … in short “UNNIS- BIS” business karane wala. Amongst them was one my mama, a father of my friend, DIWAKAR PADMAKAR GADEKAR, who was a BABU in Empress Mill, Nagpur, a PADHA LIKHA ADMI.

 Gadekar Mama used to keep Fast (Upawas) for a week from these two days. His answer was … BOZ MAT BANO - DHARTI PER (Dont be a burden on this Land). We got INDEPENDANCE to make the nation strong, and for that, we need every individual to be strong. Yes, time has come now to think about it. Really, we are the burdens on this land? Or we should give our drop of blood to this nation, which we never had ... unfurl your emotions, open it wide, see khula asman ...what you are doing here. Are you only asking ZALACH PAHIJE, AISA KAISA MILTA NAHI. “YEH - MERA HAK HAI”. Muze lena hai : Dena nahi hai. Mera kaun kya kar lenga and so on.

  I had been to Pune on last 25th January, 2024 with a hope that I would see my friends there. I had taken a lunch serve me  by a friend to whom I met at Dhule. We took lunch together.  And then me with my colleague drove to Kamgar Kalyan Bhavan. In the Factory office, I entered in side and was looking after the officers to whom I know.  I am told by the peon there to sign the visitors registered first. I completed all the procedure … sign in the registered with my name  company's  name as Nagpur Journalist, and my mobile number with a signature in the last column.

 Peon did not moved  telling me that only Division (I) and Division (II) joint Directors are available in the office, and both are busy with the visitors inside.

 As a journalist, I asked him to give my cards to both the Joint Directors. So I stood in the office but in the porch.  After little time ahead … so shall I move? I asked the peon who was in his GOGHARE VOICE as usual, peon asked me not to move from the place since he gave my cards to both the officers.

See, there is a rule I learnt in my college from Mr. Jiwaji professor that if you after Drunk gave a letter of divorce to your wife and put the letter in that red POST BOX. You have no rights to call it back  : your rights have been withhold. The letter will go to your wife even if you stayed there till the van comes to collect the letters inside the box to the shorting office. No postman gave that letter to you even if you are the person after realizing yours mistake when UTTAR GAI AB NASHA. And changed the mind not to give a DIVORCE to your wife. Your rights on the letter at par was up to you seized now, the movement you dropped letter in post box. Now it will reach to its destination and to a person it was addressed.

  The peon in his Ghogare AWAJ asked me to wait. Kept me standing.  But my age of 69, I was unable to stand since I was tired of a road journey of 6 hours from Mumbai Worli Visawa  govt. guest house to this office. After some time I am being late, I push myself in the cabin of Joint Director-II,  Mr. Sanjay Giri, to whom I knews when he was newly appointed Asstt. Director at Nanded. Last time, he met me at Diwali-2023, only two or three months back. So there was a thrust to see another Joint Director Mr.  Akhil Ghogare, because there was a opt to me to see him after a year or two.

 After an hour, Joint Director, Mr. Akhil Ghogare (DVN-I)  Pune did not call me. So I requested to Mr. Giri to help me to come along with me so that I will get an entry in the cabin of Mr. Akhil Ghogare (be sure he is Mr. Ghogare & "ghogare voice" means the voice of an individual changes at SARDI-JUKAM)

 It was  SARDI & JUKAM peon told Mr. Giri again that  Mr. Ghogare is with the guest, the peon told Mr. Giri and Giri ask me to wait for a while. After an hour we told by the same peon that Mr. Akhil Ghogare  "CHALE GAYE".

 It hapened on 25 of January and next day there was a motivation talk of mine, followed by the flag hosting programme at The FIRE ACADEMY, Santacruz, at Mumbai. We reached at Mumbai at 2.00 a.m. and I sent a message to the programme incharge of academy from WORLI VISAWA  that WE REACHED BACK FROM PUNE.  RETURNED AT 2 A.M. SO PLEASE RING US ONE AND HALF HOURS BEFORE TO GET OURSELF READY.

Mr. Kiran Hatyal asked the driver of the institute to pick up me from the guest house when I get myself ready. Presuming me that I am in bed … no one called me. But I was ready at about 7 “O” clock and I rang before here or there at 7.45 p.m. to the Fire Academy. The driver, whose number I had since my previous lecture told me that he will come after the flag hosting ceremony and now he is in ground. After reaching Academy I finished my talk around 11.50 a.m. to make boys free for lunch schedule at 12.30 noon. I could not attend the Flag Hosting programme  because of Mr. Ghogare’s behaviour, that he did not told me that he is not going to attend me.  Kept me waiting, without reason. There was big Maratha Morcha in Pune, which made us be stalled for 4 hours in the city itself.  

 My father is dead. I solemnly take an oath that I could not salute to my National  flag on this INDEPENDANCE  DAY, 2024. "

I remembered the THAPPAD of my father, at first one stroke, the second one stroke was heavy one and the third was PITAI only. I got up at early morning, father “I was not late at all” for Flag Hosting ceremony at academy.

My father is dead now. But his THAPPAD & PITTAI is in my memory when he used to wake me up.

Web: journalistland.in (by Sharad Borkar)