ALLAHABAD

Mind was stuffed with past. Presently Rickshaw pullers and cycle rickshaw drivers surrounded me. I hired one cycle rickshaw and told the address to the driver. I reached I.A.S. Pre-Examination Training Centre, Gorge Town, Allahabad. It was a hostel and already there were students. I was interviewed by one professor named Mr. Bhatnagar. He just asked me 4-5 questions and issued me a letter of admission in the centre and told to occupy one of the rooms in the hostel. Everything went smoothly. My fear and apprehension turned mistaken. My roommate was one Indoria from Madhya Pradesh. Introduction of all the students took place in the evening at the dining table. There were many students from various places like South India, Nagaland – North Eastern area, West Bengal and also a few students from Maharashtra including me. It was originally a bungalow. There was another hostel at Chattam Lines. It was understood that some philanthropist politician had donated it for S/C S/T communities’ welfare. In this hostel also there were 10 – 15 students.

 Locality was posh. Hostel atmosphere was nice. Originally this  hostel was also somebody’s bungalow. All batch mates although had their regional groups but on the whole were nice, intermingling and sharing their thoughts. Food was good. It did not feel missing heterogeneous nature of people of military since students came there from all over India, although situations were very different. Each student was paid Rs. 7/- stipend.

 The famous Anand Bhavan – Jawahar Lal Nehru’s residence was just a few minutes walk from our hostel and on the way to Allahabad University.

When I offered Western Philosophy, International Law, Advanced Indian History, and Ancient Indian Civilization and Culture, (besides compulsory subjects) for my examination, Principal of our Institute called me and asked that since these subjects did not feature in my B.A. Degree course, I should offer the same subjects for UPSC examination also. otherwise I shall be  taking a risk. But I did not make any change assuring the Principal my best efforts for  the  exam, And it was also a fact that I would be reading these subjects first time!

Our classes were held in the Allahabad University campus in the evening and subjects were taught by the University professors. Allahabad University being prestigious the professors teaching us were senior, learned and experienced. All students used to walk to and fro from the hostel to attend the classes. As such I had the opportunity to see Anand Bhavan from close distance as it was en route.

 Here I continued the same method of study, which I had adopted in military and it proved quite useful.

I visited all-important places of the city in the beginning itself. Of them I was eager to see and take bath in was “Sangam” i.e. confluence of three rivers The Ganga, The Yamuna and the mythical river The Saraswati which was said now not visible. It was not far of from our hostel. Being “Kumbh-Mela” days – Earthen Pot Festival of Hindus – which took place once in 12 years and “Ardha Kumbha-Mela” – i.e. festival taking place within the half period – 6 years – I went to the Mela. Millions of Hindu Devotees had gathered at the Sangam. Chanting religious hymns, prayer, singing of devotional songs, worshipping the idols of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses, moving in groups of totally naked mendicants, There were men, women, children, young and old, well dressed, scantly clothed, rich and poor from all over India in hundreds of thousands! The crowd looked like ocean resounded with religious slogans in praise of Gods. The belief and faith came down from generations to generations in Hindu Devotees was that taking bath in ‘Sangam’ at least once in life time would eliminate all  the committed sins, major or minor!

 The ‘Sangam’ was large, wide and deep. I could hardly see the opposite bank of the ‘Sangam’. It was full of devotees – men, women, and children taking ‘holy’ bath in it. There were hundreds of small and large boats crowded with devotees plying in the vast sheet of tranquilled ‘Sangam’ waters.

 Thrilled with spectacular view, beautiful water and plying boats I could not resist my temptation and stepped in the waters. I was not scared. I was reasonably a good swimmer and had been a winner in swimming competition held in MRC. I started moving in backstrokes, when I stumbled with some floating object. I gave a close look, I was shuddered! It was a dead body tied with ropes on the bamboo planks. I

hurriedly came out. Out of my curiosity on inquiries I was told that it was a religious custom considered sacred by Hindus that if dead bodies of their nearer and dearer were immersed in the ‘Sangam’ they would ascend to Heaven without any difficulty!

Many months then I could not relish the drinking water at hostel, as it was understood its supply source was the river Yamuna!

 Study was no problem for me. As everything was free and I was receiving stipend Rs. 7/-. I could save some money out of which I purchased a gold ring for me! Simply incredible! I left myself as a parvenu! A small ring! What a wealth!

Everyone was serious about study, some of them were studying throughout the day and night. Examinations were approaching fast. All were aware of its importance. Our professors too were giving their full time and regular attention to us. Professors like Gupta, Saxena, Ansari, Mrs. Varma (probably she was an  English lady), and Seth were taking extra classes. Day by day examination temperature was rising higher and higher!

 We were taken on picnic to Hirakud dam. Besides many places, We visited and prayeds at   the goddess Vindya Devis' temple  on the bank of the river Ganga and Chinar Fort of Sher Shah Suri.

 On return one day all of us were invited to attend a debate which was  to be held at the University campus. The subject in Hindi was “Hamari Sanskriti Ki Den” i.e. “Contribution of our culture”. Besides the Professors there were large number of students. The debate was presided over by Mr. Bal Bhadra Prasad Sinha, the Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University. Without any exception all participants presented graphic account with examples of contributions made by our culture to the Indian society in particular and world community in general. When the official speakers finished their speeches, the president i.e. Vice Chancellor announced that the debate was open for the house and anyone from the audience wishing to speak would be welcomed on the Dias.

There was silence for a minute. None was going to the Dias. When I got up and went to the stage Vice Chancellor asked my name and college/ faculty. I told my name and also name of our institute. He was glad and gave me five minutes. At this occasion my military experience of public speaking stood by me. Hindi being my medium in Saugar University and way of communication in public.language was no problem,

The way I proceeded on the subject is briefed below –

“Culture is the manifestation of the human thoughts into words and matters put in practice for the betterment of the human society at large. Indian culture could be divided mainly in two parts. First part is manifestation in metaphysical culture or philosophical theories known as “Shat Darshan” i.e. six schools of philosophy – Sankhya, Yog, Nyaya, Vaishashika, Purvamimansa and Unttarmimansa. Then there are metaphysical theories of Jainism, Buddhism and Charvak. So far Buddhism is concerned it has been totally disappeared from India except in some parts of India and the availability of its theoretical books. Charvak being epicurean its practical side has been merged in the lives of the people irrespective of their religion. Jainism observes their own code of social conduct, which is more or less like Hinduisms’ social system.

 In metaphysical aspects each is having its own concept about God, universe and man’s relation with them. The second part is most important as it has tremendous bearing on Indian people. This part of the culture can be entitled as ‘religious culture’ – depicted in Ramayan, Maha Bharat, Shrutis, Smrutis, Upanishadas, Puranas and all other religious scriptures.

All religious rites, rituals, functions, activities, ways conducting of domestic and public affairs and rules, regulations with regard to person to person daily dealing- relations are concerned, Hindus and Jains follow them in to and they consider these rules like social commandments ordered by the religious culture.

‘Ramayan’ presents concept of an ‘Ideal Man’. Mahabharat essentially exhibits concept of practical worldly life, while Bhagwat Geeta in Mahabharat is considered God’s order that has to be followed in toto, so are considered rules narrated in other scriptures. Result is in our social life there is God ordered inequality not only between man and man but between man and woman too! Hindus’ religious scriptural culture has divided, fragmented the Indian society vertically and horizontally putting each individual on unequal status!

Therefore so far metaphysical theories of Indian culture are concerned, we do not know that they had any bearings on the world’s philosophy in general and India’s life in particular. So far its religious culture’s influence is concerned it has influenced no world’s life at large but had permanent bearings on Indian society with disastrous effects. Thank God world has not followed its social order! We have not seen so-called Indian culture has influenced any other country’s culture visibly. If at all other cultures like Islamic culture and Christianity’s culture did affect Indian culture materially and substantially! Therefore deep and unbiased analysis of our culture is required to look into it”.

 After my speech silence prevailed in the audience but evoked no response. But Vice Chancellor appreciated my views and commented, “There are students who have totally different thoughts which need close examination”.

 My hostel mates congratulated me. Fact was that I had already studied Indian philosophy for my B.A. examination, now I was studying western philosophy. Those days I used to read Dr. Ambedkar’s writings daily in his newspaper coupled with his movements’ influence. There were regular news items appearing in  the newspapers like Janata, Prabuddha Bharat, etc regarding inhuman treatment being meted out to lower caste people. It provided me more than enough thoughts required for the debate and  probably  it created a  good impact!

For good or bad I was happy that I could express my thoughts before highly educated and elite group of the University and under the presidentship of Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University.