Do you have to be a rich person or the one in a high position to
be of help to others ? Not necessarily , I would say.Most of the time
, it is persons with limited means and not too exalted a position who
have mattered to me a lot , or rather compelled me to deliberate
about human goodness.
In the year 1986 on completion of
last leg of probation- cum- training at Ghumarwin, I received my
posting orders for Pooh in the tribal District Kinnaur. I was
expecting my orders in March'87, but got the same four months earlier
in November. Prakash, who assisted me as my Reader at Ghumarwin was
nice enough to give me a reference – his younger brother, Chiranji , a
chowkidar in PWD Rest House , Pooh- in case I had any difficulty. After
spending my joining time at Shimla, I headed for Pooh on 26th
November, with my wife, my seven month old daughter , and of course
my father in law who volunteered to accompany us for good reason -
to reach my destination on the morning of 29th facing many hard ships
in the way . It had already snowed once in that area , so neeedless to
say it was very cold. To add to my misery , I had to stay in the PWD
rest house , a couple of weeks , as my predecessor would vacate
the earmarked official accommodation only after his son had taken
the annual exam in the local School. One day my daughter fell sick
with fever and had to be taken to the Army hospital for checkup and
medicines . The room in the PWD Rest house was so cold that the
heater was also of not much use, besides power supply was not
regular and would play hide and seek. Seeing our plight , especially the
illness of my daughter , Chiranji, the Chowkidar offered us his
room to stay, which had a provision of steam coal Bukhari to keep
warm.For days together we slept in his room , and he would stay
elsewhere. Not only this,during my entire stay of a little less than
three years Chiranji was also accommodating enough when some visitors
came unannounced, without proper booking or permit.
Again, the same Chiranji happened to be the Chowkidar at Circuit
House , Bilaspur, when I went there on posting in 1995. Again, I was
forced to stay in the Circuit House for a few days, and again he was
very nice to us . Meeting him again, was an opportunity to relive
our memories of Pooh, and also express our gratitude again to
Chiranji, the good Samaritan.
