Back Bone

Rajeev is a popular IAS officer in India. He received several accolades and rewards for all his good work through out his career. He was best known for his fast decision making. Most admired by popular politicians for his supportive work for the government proposals. Most of his time during his government service was in rural areas rather than cities. Due to his son's request he decided to spent his retirement life in Hyderabad.

Danish, Rajeev's son works for corporate company which pays fat packages. Package helped him to built a cosy duplex house in mid of the city. It is just a week Rajeev moved from district headquarters to hustle busy city. Rajeev felt proud of his son for the big house he made. He went around the house and stopped at one of the bedroom terrace.The terrace view gave a full coverage from the garden area till the house gate end. He noticed the watchman at the Gate. Immediately, he called Danish to find out details about the watchman. Danish, the watchman does not look professional, have you verified his details? Danish replied "Dad he is been referred by friend so no issues. No worries".

I am getting late to office catch you dad. He rushed out of the house gate in his luxurious BMW in no time. After having sumptuous breakfast served by the maid, Rajeev stepped out of the home to walk around the garden. The shovels, hand pruners and spades in the garden, reminded him of his forgotten hobby of gardening. Without second thought he picked the hand pruner and trying to cut the twigs. He was struggling lot to do that. The watchman came rushing to him and asked "Sir, can I help you". Rajeev gave a go ahead with is eyes. To his surprise watchman has did more than a perfect job. The way he was levelling the ground was perfect than a machine work. Rajeev started asking, what is your name? Watchman replied "Kishan". Kishan, have you worked as a gardener earlier. Kishan smiled and replied, gardening was my hobby. Farming was my profession. Rajeev startled for a moment. He then quickly asked why are you working as watchman now? Kishan replied in a sad tone, in pursuit of building a great concrete jungle, the government snatched my piece of bread. People call us founders of civilisation, on the other side in the name of modern civilisation they loot us. I had 2 acres of land in the end of my remote village, close to the forest. I got this inherited from my grand father, who cleared the boulders and made this piece of land into a fertile one.

What all we know was to believe Mother nature, some times it blessed us with hay, some times it showed us anger in form of famine and floods. No situation shattered our lives. As we trust her judgement. I don't know from where these so called educated officers came one fine morning asking us to evacuate the land saying it is owned by government. I replied back to them "Government?" Where was this when we fought against all nature disasters? When we turned land of boulders to blooming landscapes? They were no ears to my concerns. I begged for the first time not to grab my living. I was the soul whole bread winner of the family. They asked for legal papers. I was born in a village where we don't know how a school looks like.

From where shall I bring the papers? They said we will pay you compensation if you have legal documents, if not we have to pull you out. They were harsh than any flood and famine that I saw in the past. Merciless people snatched from me my living. In this struggle of life I landed here in this job.

Some thing stroked Rajeev mind. He asked Kishan "which village you were from, which district?" Kishan replied "Ramnagar District, Kisanpur village". This time Rajeev in low voice asked again "Are you from newly forming capital of the new state?" No Sir, I am from the state where new buildings are constructed and lands are seized on the graves of the farmers. Rajeev tried to explain the new cities will bring you new jobs...Kishan with a innocent face questioned back "Watchman job?" There was no reply from Rajeev. He walked silently into the house. In his silence he knew

There was no need to build a new capital in acres of fertile land neglecting the barren lands just for few political favours..Asking for legal documents from these kind of farmers is asking for patent for the air we breathe, water we drink and for the sun shine we get. Every grain we eat every day is their sweat and blood. We need to thank them for that. All they knew is to rest in mother nature lap and trust her judgement.

He could not sleep the whole night on the luxury mattress, in the cosy and stylish house. He understood the power of his one signature made without thinking on both the ends. The file he signed and approved the land acquisition of Kisanpur village was the biggest sin he made. Beyond policies, beyond politics, beyond rules, beyond acts and reforms, there is called humanity. Most of us tend to forget the very fact in this rat race of modern life. Are great cities built burying Mother nature and his son Farmer? The next generation will be really happy in these concrete jungles without food grains? Can we be really happy and prosperous without backbone of India- "The Farmer". May be we all need to pause for a moment in the serenity of the nature and think on this.