Next Sunday I went to Laxmipura and found out Mahila Vidyalaya and the
Principal Mr. Madhukarrao Shrikhande. As he was taking some extra classes, I
stood waiting. I was in mufti dress so I had no difficulty there. When he came
out, I met him and explained my military life, family background and my keen
interest in pursuing my education. The principal listened but did not respond.
He offered me water, left the room and returned with a lady and said,
“Sawdekar, this is madam Hardikar (real name). She is a teacher of our school.
She will give you all required information, guidance and also teach you at her
residence and you can attend classes of 9th, 10th and 11th
standards in our school along with girl students. Whenever it suited you, and
whenever possible come to our residence in Subhedar Wada!” The old adage – “The
blind man asked for one eye and God gave him two!” Overwhelmed with joy I left
their office quickly.
Next day when I went to teach the children, I told Jamadar G. L. Pandit
about the Mahila Vidyalaya and the Principal Shrikhande’s assurance of help in
detail. For a moment JCO Pandit could not believe it and expressed his surprise
saying "how principal would allow you to sit in the class of girls and
that too of girl’s high school, it being exclusively for girls!" Any way,
I had no answers except principal’s words!
To attend regular classes
at Mahila Vidyalaya was out of
question. I had some time on Sundays provided I was not put on duty and on
Sundays school was closed except extra classes. In short I had to depend on my
own efforts. One day again I explained my problem to Jamadar G. L.
Pandit who assured me saying he would find some way out. A month passed but
there was no word from Jamadar Pandit. My hopes dimmed.
My regular participation in inter company debate competitions, winning
it which raised company’s prestige, publication of my stories and poems in
Army’s publication “Sainik Samachar Patra” besides my efforts to appear for
matric made me quite popular in our centre and in all the ranks making me “Respectable
Jawan”. In general, during those days in Mahar Regiment, educated jawans
were very few. The trend of joining military of educated probably started from
our platoon. Our Platoon Hawaldar Naik and Lance Naik were always telling us this fact.As such appearing short stories, poems of a Mahar Jawan in the
prestigious Army Magazine was being considered a matter of pride by all ranks
in all the Mahar Battalions. In fact I was not blotted by this popularity. I
was concerned as to how I would equip educationally enough myself and become a
big man and still not knowing its exact meaning!
I was (over)
ambitious and probably over ambitions make man immune to sensitivity.
When J.C.O.Pandit called me in his office, my mind was full of doubts.
He said, “Subhedar Major Dilbag Singh Sahab has permitted you to attend extra
classes in the city on Sundays and daily after the game periods. You will go in
Mufti but attend all other duties. No other concession will be given to you. I
have also spoken to your Platoon Hawaldar and JCO, Mr. T. M. Kharat. I have
requested them not to pressurize you if you are absent for roll call some
times”.
Mr.Pandit got my road cleared, difficulties solved and doubts rested. In
the evening Subhedar Major Dilbag Singh put his hand on my back and said, “Now
concentrate on your study”. That time his two children, daughter and son and I
simply discussed about my classes.
Next day after game period I rushed to Subhedar Wada in Laxmipura. I had
no conveyance and there was no public transport linked between army camp and
the city area. I walked the distance as fast as I could. Subhedar Wada was a
huge fortress like house. It was a palace of a Maratha noble of city.
Saugar was under the dominance of Peshwa – Maratha rulers. That was the
reason Maratha families from Maharashtra – Madhya Pradesh migrated to Saugar
during Peshwa Rule and settled there permanently.
Huge gates, decorated artistically with bronze plates, balconies in old
architectural style, steep and high steps! I went to the second floor. I
realized that the Wada had retained its glory outwardly! Real glamour
and glory must have gone with the bye gone Subhedars or noble of
yesteryears of the Wada.
As Mr. Madhukarrao Shrikhande saw me in the door, he held my hand and
took inside. A woman came from inside putting a glass of water.
asked “Wash the face and feet in the bathroom”. Mr. Shrikhande did not
introduce me to the woman. Then she took me in another room and asked to sit. Already
there were four children. 2 women and an old middle aged man. They were sitting
in a row! The woman put a wooden square small size plank before me. Food was
served. Nobody was speaking anything except the serving woman intermittently.
She would say me, “Don’t feel shy! Eat properly and eat everything”.
Dinner was over and the children dispersed. Then Mr. Madhukarrao said,
“He is my elder brother, Chintamanrao. He is also a teacher in our school. She
is his wife and she is our mother and our children. The woman who is serving is
my wife. Today is our fast. Now sit and feel comfortable”. Shrikhande family
was staying in Subhedar Wada as tenants.
Senior Shrikhande gave me some books and told that I need not purchase
any books. When I told about my spare time availability, he said, “No problem.
Mr. Hardikar will teach you whenever you are free”. Within no time all the family members made me feel that they knew me
since long and I felt that as if I was one of their family members! On the very
first day, in first meeting, no acquaintances, dinner, homeliness, casual,
normal affection and mute assurance for future help! It was unbelievable!
Shrikhande family became my family in civil life in Saugar city. Mrs.
Indumati (real name) Shrikhande gave me motherly as well as sisterly love while
both the brothers helped me in every respect. When problem arose to forward my
examination form as a private student, Mr. Madhukarrao Shrikhande directed me
to meet Principal of Saugar Govt. High School who was a lady and her name too
was Shrikhande! Mr. Shrikhande was not in position to forward my form as his
school was exclusively for girls.
On his advice I met Principal Mrs. Shrikhande who not only took the
responsibility to forward my examination form to Madhya Pradesh Board but also
asked me to come to her residence, which was in Laxmipura itself in case I had
any difficulty. Her son and daughter senior to me gave me model question and
answers. The Principal also told me to attend the classes in her school!
I had already become regular
visiting student of Miss Hardikar at her residence in Laxmipura known as
Hardikar Wada. Her teaching method was simple and easily understandable. I was
the only male student with all other girl students at her residential class. No
other male student was allowed. Thus, so far my examination formalities were
concerned principal took the responsibility. As far as preparation for my
examination was concerned Shrikhande brothers and Miss Hardikar were teaching
and guiding me regularly. So far military was concerned Subhedar Major Dilbag
Singh, Jamadar Pandit and MRC Commanding Officer Col. Ghashiram extended me
their blessings! At the same time it increased my responsibility, answerability
and it put me on my toes and feet.
I had to attend morning physical training (P.T.), perform all weaponry
exercises, discharge quarter guard, night patrolling duties etc; take classes
of jawans and as soon as it was over I had to run literally to the city
for tuition. Thus invariably I missed my lunch of the Lungar. Laxmipura
was far away from our military camp. I had no conveyance. Time available to
study was too short and during night 10 PM was the limit. No sentry on duty
including myself would allow to keep the barrack light on beyond 10PM!
But my ambition was the real lights. No difficulty could deter me! My
examination was over and I succeeded crossing the hurdles, I passed the 11th
class from Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary School Certificate Examination in
second division! It was 1956.
My joy did not remain limited to me. It became the centre’s joy. It
became almost a public property. I went to all officers mentioned above and
paid my grateful respect. The news was also conveyed to Commanding Officer Col.
Ghashiram by Subhedar Major Dilbag Singh, as jawan going to C.O. directly was
not in conformity with the military discipline. Needless to write all felt
extremely happy. Shrikhande family, Principal Mrs. Shrikhande and Miss Hardikar
had special reason to be happy, as I was their student-product! All appreciated
my efforts with blessings. Mrs. Indutai gave me sweets and celebrated my
success of examination by hosting a family dinner, My close friend Yadav
Ranshringare distributed sweets in our school and Adam Company.
In military, to study it was an
unthinkable matter. But the help, guidance and blessings of all these
kind-hearted people made that impossible dream a possible reality! I shot a
letter to my brother and conveyed the news and I asked him to tell our mother
that I have fulfilled my promise given to her from the moving train at the
hostel. In fact my mother left the hostel work within a month after my joining
military.
Joy subsided. Fatigued body got relaxed and mind released its tension. I
got engaged in military activities. But soon mind started troubling me and
asking, “So what next now?”
Reading books was my addiction. In other words I was
really a voracious reader. After S.S.C. result I got breathing time and
Centre"s library was my treasure. It was my way of reading that I used to
finish all books, creations of a specific writer at one stretch. Almost all
books of Ravindranath Tagore, Bankimchandra Chattopadheya, Sharadchandra and
Premchand. I read out such creations of many other writers during this period.
Besides works of Hindi writrers like Dinkar, Phanishwar Renu, Prabhakar Machve,
Nirala, Sumitra Nandan Pant, Mahadevi Verma etc. etc. I being much inclined
towards spiritualism I went through many books of Gorkhpur’s Geeta Press. I made
revisions of book “Atmanand” (self Bliss) and “Jeevan ke Das Bhed” (10 secrets
of life), Tulsidas – a blind man
character in one of
the novels of famous
PREMCHAND says, “Honi hokar rahegi Anhoni kabhi nahi hogi” i.e.
evitable will not happen and inevitable will happen – made permanent prints on
my mind, but it could not make me ‘determinist’.
As it was compulsory for military jawan to avail casual leave of
10 days and 2 months annual leave and since I had leave and there was no
concrete decision about my further education, I went on two months leave. In
fact I was so impatient to tell about my matriculation and other related
stories personally to my mother, brother and others, I arrived my village
without giving any advance information.
Everyone in the family was extremely glad. I did not notice any old
usual problem of food. All told me that the way I have been sending money, it
worked very well.
It was my practice to give sweets, clothes and small amount to
neighbors. I used to give meals prepared by mother to my all old classmates and friends at our house. During leave period there was always
a big gathering in our house and string of various visitors who were from all
castes and localities. I used to encourage young boys of our community to join
Mahar Regiment by narrating Regiment’s history, Mahar soldiers’ bravery in
world war, Indo-Pak war and how Hawaldar Rau Kamble (real name) continued
machine gun firing keeping his thumb on its stud despite his head was cut by
the enemy in the Pakistan war, importance of machine gun, and how Mahar
soldiers fought and defeated Peshwa at Koregaon.
Besides I used to narrate them about the present opportunities for them
in Mahar Regiment! But the fact was the listeners were too young to join
military. However the stories would keep them enchanted. I told them the
Martial song of the Mahar Regiment, which was composed by Regiment’s C.O. Col.
Ghashiram. The song showed connection of the Mahars with the great King Shivaji
and the bravery of the Mahar race. The beginning stanzas ran like this - “Veer
Shivaji ke Balak Hum, Hain Mahar sainik Hum Hum Hum” – loosely translated it
was like this – “We (Mahars) are the children of the brave Shivaji and like him
we are the brave mahar soldiers”. When I sang this martial song in its actual
tune and in full, the young boys and all present there felt as if they were themselves
brave soldiers. My mother would always sit beside me. She knew little what I
passed or told to the boys but was immensely happy to see that I studied
further and most importantly although in military I was alive! Raghunath loved me so much. He
had sacrificed his education for me.
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