Agitation

India, a land of wonders, scriptures, monuments, music, culture and what have we. Above all we are a Sovereign, Social, Democratic republic. The credit definitely goes to the innumerable freedom fighters who laid their precious lives to make us see today and tomorrow. Many of the well known freedom fighters are revered and respected. We get to read about them in texts and articles. But, we have many such unsung heroes who have made their contributions in this mammoth task. Let us get acquainted with one such silent hero who happens to be my grandparent. I am duly thrilled to write a few lines about this great man.     

 This narrative dates back to around 70 years when the protagonist of this story was a young boy.                               Soma Soma shouted his sister.  Come inside it is already dark, you have to finish your school work (home work). Finish it before the oil in the lantern gets finished. We will have to fill it again and takes a lot more time cautioned his sister kalyani as Soma seemed to bother about the distribution of marbles he had won in that day's game . His nature was different from the other children of his age. He did not mind sharing his things even though he had limited things with him. (Ofcourse Soma was from a family of landlords. Money was not a problem. His father was a farmer who made good money. They lived in their ancestral home that was quite big . But, they lived in a Small Village) Soma went inside and finished his home work quickly and finished his dinner too and picked up a book about Gandhiji that was kept in his father's rack. It was in his native language and so he could follow the content easily. May be the seeds of nationalism were sown at that age in his heart and mind.

Soma dozed off to sleep. Early in the morning he got up, finished his daily routine and started off to the School by walk. He had to walk quite a distance to reach his School. On the way he was joined by his best friends Nitin and Sumit. They reached School and attended the prayer session. That day was special as they were told about the upcoming event in view of the impending Independence day celebration.  Many competitions were to be held. The students had to render a Speech about their favourite National leaders needless to say Soma was thrilled beyond words. After School he went back home and the first thing he did was to write short notes about freedom fighters and by the way Mahatma topped the list. The Event went well and Soma won the first prize for his elocution. He was happy beyond words. That was the first incident that prompted him to start writing about freedom and it's importance. Given a chance he was eager to speak, write and recite about India and its heritage. He was very proud about his Nation and its leaders, something unexpected from a 10 year old boy.

As he grew up and finished his Schooling he joined a College in a town a little distance from his Village. This was a new world he stepped into. And at that time the entire Country was waving to the tunes of freedom struggle. Soma too was influenced tremendously by this wave. He formed a youth association that tried to imbibe the values of struggle and sacrifices for the sake of the Nation. He was a torch bearer during any agitation that happened for this cause. He was a leader of the youth in and around his village and town during the Quit India Movement. He even had to spend time behind bars for this cause.

He realised the power of his pen and published many literary works like poems and stories that were quite effective in igniting young minds to fight for the Nation in Whatever way possible. In the year 1944 and 1945 he undertook many Dharnas and rallies in collaboration with the Indian Navy comrades. His work " Inquilab Zindabad" written in local language went on to influence many young people to fight for the Nation. He even took an active lead in the agitation against the Nizam Dynasty.                                     . . As a Social reformist and intellectual writer who could reach to the different sections of the Society he was very active with most of the events that were meant for protest against the British Rule .

Even though he could have spent a comfortable life with the wealth he had and could afford he always strived to uplift the downtrodden and bring hope through his writings. Hope about a better future, hope about freedom and hope about good times to come. He was satisfied that he could do his bit in the mammoth task of obtaining freedom. He had to sell some of his property too to support such causes With the support of his wife he could manage all this.            

  On a closing note I would like to quote what he used to say about his efforts in this direction. He used to say that he may not be recognised for his efforts in the freedom struggle like some of our very great leaders but still he was happy and proud that may be somewhere and somehow his efforts might have made a small contribution in this greatest agitation. He believed that as small drops of water make an Ocean little efforts by everyone will get the required result that is the Country's freedom from the British. No surprise yes, he was a very happy man in 1947 like all Indians. "Bharat Mata ki Jai. ".