Government of Maharashtra’s order asked me to report to the Commissioner
of Aurangabad Division for further placement. During those days post of
Tahsildar was considered very covetous, powerful and prestigious. Employees
would spend their life’s service career to reach to that position and being the
Suprimo of the Taluka, everybody irrespective of age, caste respected him. Also
fact was Tahsildar exercised considerably vast powers. It was not an
exaggeration but a fact. Another significant side of the post was as Aurangabad
was under the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad who had given much more authority
and powers to the Tahsildar.
Anyway, my family members were jubilant. They were extremely happy.
Although my previous post of Preventive Officer was not that insignificant, but
it had no identity and recognition particularly in the rural area. As such my
family members and my brothers felt special pride in telling others that their
bother Raoji – was a Tahsildar, in other words people recognized them as
brothers of Tahsildar Saheb!
I reported Commissioner, Aurangabad Division who posted me to Latur, a
Taluka town of Osmanabad district of Marathwada region. Marathwada was part of
Nizam of Hyderabad and as such was much neglected and remained backward socially, educationally
and economically and of course far away from political awareness. Nizam’s
administrative and bureaucratic and monarchical grip on public was so hard that
could not be loosened or unlocked inspite of the fact that Nizam’s dynastic
rule was destroyed by Indian forces soon after Indian Independence .
I was alone. My posting report was already received by Latur Taluka
office.
At bus stand there was almost a crowd from Tahsil office came to receive
me. A junior revenue inspector had already fixed a rented residence for me
where they took me in the office vehicle. I had very small luggage. There was
race to appreciate my little household, simple dress and cordial attitude. When
we reached our rented house, the landlord rushed to the main door of the house
to receive me. He had already cleared my rooms, placed an earthen pot for
drinking water and arranged his own 2-3 chairs in the rooms. Already it was a
big house with several rooms. I was told that the landlord belonged to Lingayat – religious creed – who generally were known for their strict
orthodoxy. The hustle and bustle of the Tahsil office staff came to look after
me. This kept me quite amusing! However the submissive atmosphere was evidence
of Nizam’s legacy of bureaucratic fear prevailing in the minds of public and
official working.
After some time we went to Tahsil office where I was introduced to my
counter part. I observed he was not very happy to meet me. Office staff
accompanied by the Tahsildar, I was taken around the building. I was told the
building belonged to Kasam Razavi; the ill famous Razakar’s leader who had
waged armed war against Government of India on behalf of Nizam of Hyderabad in
order to remain an independent Kingdom of Indian Domain. They further narrated
the atrocities he had committed on public and had directed his Razakar
rebellions from this building. While in school I too had read various stories
of Kasam Rizavi’s brutalities, which ultimately were crushed by Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel by sending Indian army in Marathwada.
After the defeat of rebellions, fall of Nizam and full annexation of
Hyderabad State with India, staff told me Government of Maharashtra took over
the building and Tahsil office of Latur was housed in it. While going around I
observed the Tahsildar saying to his staff that now he would be handing over
the charge of Tahsil to this Tahsildar of yesterday. Being an old man and human
being’s natural reaction I ignored his remarks. In fact they thought me a fresh
graduate from the college, newly selected by MPSC, raw and inexperienced
person. They obviously were unaware that my bad luck and good luck had already
half chiselled and half-baked me for the life.
I was alone at home but the staff
was taking every care. Tea, breakfast, meals etc. were served in time. I
thought as I was alone and expecting my family to join me soon, out of
consideration the staff was taking my care!
After 3 days Nirmala and my elder brother arrived. I had the advance
information. When I went to the bus stand, there were already 3-4 staff members
mostly class-IV to receive them. They too had small luggage. When we reached
home, there was good ceremonial welcome arranged by the family members of the
landlord to receive my family!
Next day in the morning I noticed three peons from our office standing in front of the gate. When I asked them the reason they came early
morning, one of them replied that one of them will prepare the food for us,
second will bring the required things by my family and the third person would
carry my bag (he called it “Daptar”) to the office. My elder brother being an
experienced social worker simply looked at me smilingly! Nirmala did not react.
But I got angry and said that they were Government employees and not my
domestic personal servants and they should only work in the office. Certainly
it was unheard, unthought-of, totally unexpected for them who were born,
brought up and who served half of their life service in Nizam’s bureaucracy.
They, downcast their heads still stood there like statues! Hearing my raised
voice our landlord also came out. My elder brother and Nirmala were already
witnessing my outburst. Finally I shouted at them saying to get lost
immediately. Without uttering a word but quite puzzled they left.
I finished my
meals quickly and reached office. From the looks of working Tahsildar, Naib
Tahsildar and Peshkar (Head Clerk), I sensed that something fishy had happened!
There was mixed reaction. Peons, clerks, class-IV category staff was happy
whereas the staff, which was going to be deprived of these privileges, were
pale-faced and unhappy! On the top of it I was going to take charge of Tahsil –
sooner or later. Tahsildar meant unquestionable authority in any respects. They
saw inevitable coming!
”Sir, we request you to reconsider your decision. This has been normal and
accepted practice since generations in this region. By withdrawing them from
officer’s residence we shall be stopping their source of additional earnings
which is very necessary for them”. One of the Naib Tahsildar – Kulwant (name
changed) who considered himself close to me – talked to me hesitatingly. I did
not allow staff to work at my home. Not only that the routine practice of
sending peon or revenue inspector in advance to cinema theatre or other office including barber’s shop that I
was intending to visit also I stopped. Nirmala too refused to accept bagful of
raw groundnuts or vegetable brought by generally revenue inspectors!
My elder brother, an extremely honest and committed social worker, observed keenly my working. After few days when he left for village, he
said – “Raoji, you have done a right thing! Be firm.”
One day my landlord came to me and wanted to talk to me in confidence.
He stood near to me but uttered not a word for minutes! Ultimately I politely
asked him to speak! Very unwillingly and hesitatingly he whispered in the
lowest tone near to my ears and swiftly went inside the house!
I got the message. Within next
2-3 days we left his room and shifted to another place. It too was a big house
but there were number of tenants. Our neighbour was a Marwadi family.
Because of my refusal to allow staff in our house an underground
movement of displeasure towards me already had taken up. Outwardly all talked
goody-goody and with official respect but eagerly waiting for my shift.
Once in the office we received a report from our revenue inspector that
in a nearby village a woman with her infant was killed in the fire of their own
hut. I was going for investigation. After half an hour’s drive two horse riders
on the road near a village stopped our jeep. Both the riders quickly got down;
taking their horse aside they saluted me and said, “Sir, our Malik (master)
requested Tahsildar Saheb to give him an opportunity to serve Saheb tonight.
Our master ordered us to pray you to make your night halt at our master’s
wada”.
I said, “Let me finish my work, then I shall let you know”.
“As you wish sir, but we will
wait till you return”.
When I returned the same horse riders were found waiting for me. I
accompanied them who took me to a sprawling orchard. The Patil was already
standing at the main gate to receive me. After salutations etc. I told Patil
that my wife was at Latur and would be waiting for me and she has no idea that
I would be staying here tonight. Then Patil requested me to give him a note for
my wife informing her about my tonight’s halt and the note would be brought back
with her signature on it. The garden was huge, full of fruit trees, flower
plants and lush green.
There was a small but beautiful farmhouse. Patil gave me new Dhoti (a
men’s long cloth ware), shirt, towel etc. requesting me to have bath with well
water. Finding no motive attached with these I finished my bath etc. Meanwhile horse riders brought back the note duly endorsed by Nirmala. Patil took me around the orchard showing his new experiments
of cross-planting, new variety of fruits with enthusiasm. Patil was nearing his
old age but looked perfectly in good health and sound mind. He was the head of
the village holding large landed property and hundreds of acres of agricultural
farms. After requesting me to taste some fruits he took me to his residence at
his village.
From outside his house looked like a huge fortress. A big gate was the
only place for entrance. It was a double storied, semi circular building with
open space in the middle. When we reached inside, Patil’s wife came with a
traditional silver plate. rice grains, kum-kum, and a small lamp with burning
wick in it. Mrs. Patil put the kum-kum (red sacred powder) on my forehead and
circled the plate around my head, as it is the tradition everywhere in the
Hindu families. The person who is received with this ceremony is considered a
respectable, highly placed and very important man. After this, Patil showed me
entire house. He also clarified that these houses are called “Wada” – and they
are so built to provide safety from invading enemies; and I will see such
houses in almost all villages of Marathwada, which was under the rule of Nizam
of Hyderabad.
Mrs. Patil served a typical food.
Patil told that it was a speciality of Moghul receipes. It had really unique
flavour and taste. Needless to say I relished it and felt extremely satisfied.
Now it was time to go to bed. Meantime Patil told me that he had seen and lived
and served in Nizam’s Kingdom and now recently experiencing winds of free
India. He also narrated various stories of atrocities committed on Hindus by
Kasam Razavi and his mercenaries during Nizam’s demand for an independent
Hyderabad Kingdom. I could see that bed, bed sheets, mosquito net all were
newly purchased for me. The fresh air, open space in the middle and beautiful
starry sky above, tempted me to sleep there instead in the close room. So I
asked Patil whether I could sleep there, he welcomed it.
In the morning I heard some shouting and I got up in the bed. Mr. Patil was shouting at his high pitch voice saying, “You bloody Mahar,
now-a-days you people have crossed the limits and are becoming more arrogant.
You have forgotten your caste and do not feel ashamed of it. Can’t you see
Tahsildar Sab is sleeping here and you are walking past touching his cot!” I immediately understood the cause of his anger and shouting, but I did not react. I allowed Mr. Patil and his wife to
extend their hospitability and largesse as generously as much they could do it
for me! Since our jeep was to reach at his residence from our office to take
me, I had enough time. Mr. Patil narrated me in detail as how they were
respected and obeyed by the lower castes people like Mahar, Chambhar, Matang
etc. during Nizam’s rule and how they were noticing change in the attitude of
these castes after annexation of Hyderabad State with independent India. Mr.
Patil missed no minute to abuse Mahar and other lower castes while telling me
the prevailing conditions!
Then very humbly and with apology he begged my pardon for Mahar’s
behaviour – who he told was his servant. Meantime I noticed our jeep parked at
the main gate! While Mr. Patil was repeatedly asking to be excused for any lack
in hospitability they extended!
I got up, paid my respects to his wife and proceeded towards jeep. I
took a small pause for a minute and coolly but clearly said, “Thank you very
much, but Patil Saheb the person you and your family has so generously been
entertaining in your Wada, is also a Mahar!”
“What!” he loudly exclaimed but immediately controlled himself and said
in broken sentences – “But Sir, you are highly educated. Your living is so
clean, you speak pure Marathi and you are a big officer....!” I got in the
parked jeep! I saw Patil talking as if to himself almost helplessly and
mechanically! My jeep speeded up!
Engrossed in introspection recalling the reading by me of various
articles written by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in his newspaper “Janata”, my interview
with chairman of selection board, and my brother’s missionary works, I did not
know when I reached home! Driver had opened the door of jeep and stood there by
holding it and waiting for my stepping down!
Seeing my pale face, Nirmala asked me whether anything went wrong?
Our surname is “Sawdekar”. In Maharashtra mostly and generally this
surname is common only in Brahmin caste. So very few people, obviously only
nearer would know that I belonged to Mahar caste – considered as untouchable
one or S/C!
Besides what happened in Patil’s house, I told Nirmala the reason why we
left the Lingayat’s house – the landlord who whispered in my ears was thus –
“Sir, I am so sorry, I understood you are Mahar by caste. Your surname misled
me. I don’t like to disclose it. But sooner or later it will be known and it
will invite a big trouble for me. Would you kindly leave my house?” Nirmala was
stunned and I lost in my retrospective thoughts!
After a fortnight or so I was
transferred to Ausa – another Taluka place not far off from Latur. In view of
my attitude in relation with staff’s in-house services I was already a person nongrata
in our office. But I had no source to know whether my transfer was done in my
interest – as for probationer all facilities or work nature was equally
available at Latur too. or engineered!
Since Ausa was quite near I retained our house and family i.e. Nirmala
at the earlier place itself and travelled up and down between Latur and my
office at Ausa.
Tahsil office at Ausa was located in an old fort built underground. It
was really an engineering feat. There were beautiful palaces, huge rooms,
cells, wells and small bridge type walls interconnected. The fort was not much
visible from above. Most of its portion was submerged in and surrounded by
water providing natural cooling. Although most of the buildings were in
dilapidated condition, the whole fort looked quite imposing.
On the very first day I found
office emptied at 4 PM. It looked like a deserted place. Except one or two
nobody was seen in the office. Next 4-5 days I noticed the same scene
repeatedly. Nobody stayed late in the office after 4 PM.
On inquiring very interesting and incredible stories were told to me.
Even while narrating the teller – I found – I was really frightened!
Gathered stories were like this – the fort was very old and dynasties ruled
from here. Several battles were fought in the fort. Many hundreds had committed
suicide and till recent times it had taken place. During Nizam’s rule many, men, women,
children were jailed in the cells and murdered. Several were stabbed to death
and now so many unsatisfied souls in the forms of spirits and ghosts made presence as soon as dark started setting. Sounds of swords fighting, screams of
dieing persons were heard and if any living person were found there, they were
killed and their bodies were thrown in the well waters. Surprisingly the ghost
of the same persons appeared daily and they tried to catch hold of their colleagues
and friends who in turn were killed and made co-ghosts! Those who were killed
in the recent times were occasionally seen! And because of this staff members
were leaving the office as early as possible – so far so good!
Since I had come across similar
stories at MRC Saugar, I was in no mood
to believe them. So I gave strict instructions not to leave office before the
time. I banged next day those found absent!
Resentment, anger silent non-cooperation and rebelian started
underground the fort. I sensed it but ignored. Accustomed to habit, it was
psycho fear syndrome, wrongly; rightly or purposely such stories were spread, I
had no idea. But at the same time I accepted no excuses or ghost-fear stories
from them and ordered to stick up to the office timings.
I added another problem for me and difficulty for staff. When I came to
know that some staff members were collecting money from farmers in the name of
God and Goddesses fairs while distributing Taquavi (Government Financial help).
I stopped it immediately. In fact this stoppage of their income worked as
highly inflammable fuel for their discontent and displeasure. But unfortunately
for me and fortunately for staff my drive died quickly.
After office I used to go back to Latur where we had retained our rented
house.
Within that week I received a letter redirected from Bombay. It was from UPSC, New Delhi asking me to appear for the interview of Programme
Executive’s post in All India Radio.We both discussed its pros and cons, its repercussions on my career and
our future children. I was in dilemma of whether to go or not to go!
This was the second call letter
from UPSC for the same post! How?
When in Bombay I had appeared for the written examination held for the
post of programme executives. I passed it and in the due course of time UPSC
sent me its interview letter. I purchased a ticket for myself for Delhi and
went to Bombay Central with Nirmala and my second elder brother Raghunath. I
got in the train at Bombay Central. Nirmala and my brother Raghunath were
standing on the platform and talking to me through window. After some time
whistle blew and train started moving slowly. Nirmala and Raghunath were
waving. Suddenly I got up from my seat, lifted my holdall and threw it out from
the door. In a fraction of second I too jumped on the platform from the moving
train! Before Nirmala and Raghunath could reach to me train had left the
platform. Nirmala was in tears and Raghunath baffled! There was reason to have
Nirmala in tears! I had declined RBI’s appointment, besides Auditor’s job or
Preventive Officer’s post, which I had already left and now my refusal to
appear for Programme Executive’s post meant I was to remain jobless!
But meantime I got Tahsildar’s post (revenue officer) and future took
the shape! Now UPSC had clearly written in the call letter that second opportunity
was given to me and no more would be given. In fact as I had not attended it I
had already forgotten it.
There are certain sayings permanently stuck in my mind. Premchand, a
well-known Hindi novelist – in one of his novels – projected a blind character
named “Surdas”. He says, “Anhoni Kabhi Nahi Hogi, Aur Honi Hokar Rahegi” means
(also explained in preceding page) certain events are avoidable. They will not
take place. And there are also certain events which will take place come what
may. So what is destined will happen. I decided to go. But why and how we both
left Latur with our bag and baggage cannot be explained.
I left Nirmala at her sister’s care and I left for Delhi saying that if
they did not select me I shall change my opinion about their capabilities. No
doubt over-confidence amounting to megalomaniac!
I attended the interview without
fear and doubt and returned Bombay. I did not go back to Ausa. I received
letter and message from Collector, Osmanabad and also Government Revenue Department asking me to report for duty! But I did not join! I sent a letter to my elder brother
detailing reasons about my declining to join Ausa.
And within a fortnight or so I received UPSC letter informing me that I
was selected for the post of Programme Executive, All India Radio!
Order of posting followed the
UPSC’s intimation, from the Director General, All India Radio, Broadcasting
House, New Delhi asking me to report to the Station Director, All India Radio,
Pune.
Probably my elder brother Gunaji was the happiest person on my selection
and posting in All India Radio as he himself had seen the office atmosphere,
social conditions vis-à-vis our caste and backwardness of the region where I
was supposed to work and live throughout my life!
Here I ended another chapter of my life,
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