TROUBLED CO- EXISTENCE

 Memories 

* TROUBLED CO- EXISTENCE*

A PECULIAR feature which all persons notice while travelling by train from Durgapur to Gomoh ( Howrah- Delhi route) through the coal belts in Dhanbad, Asansol, Ranigang etc in India that during the day time they see smoke emerging from large areas of barren land while at night they see red hot burning soil which resembled the Earth on fire. There is no sign of stubble burning or any human being responsible for it. Everybody passing through that Coal Belt is astonished on looking at the beauty of the site. I am graduate mining engineer passed out in 1979 from Indian school of mines Dhanbad ( now IIT-ISM). The above burning fire is basically the burning coal within the soil which is seen and is responsible for the smoke emitting from the soil. The heat generated by this burning soil is so intense that it is conducted to the adjoining soil making it barren and unfit for cultivation. Thus the adjoining soil bears the brunt of the endless heat generated by the burning coal. Though this natural phenomena is immensely useful to the society staying nearby and thrilling site for any visitor, but the adjacent soil is degraded endlessly. Some of the most caring, helpful and otherwise gentle individuals are seen continuously fuming at something or the other. They always play the victim card for themselves and blame someone or the other for an insult which had happened many years ago. This insult has permanently left down deep inside their heart which keeps on oozing whenever a comparable situation arises. A few words of empathy have a temporary soothing effect on the wound which is ready to bleed again with the next stimulus and the process goes on. The close associates of such individuals neither can oppose the old facts nor can they speak out their unhappiness and both continue to live together a suffocated life perpetually, leaving others with a difficult choice to choose a suferer among them. Saptaparna tree is known to emit fragrance in the environment and gives a pleasant feeling to all passers-by. But the inhabitants in close vicinity become uncomfortable due to this continues fragrance. A flowing stream of water or a river is a beautiful site for tourists and poets. Many poets have compared the sound made by the flowing rivers to a melodious song. A stanza Nadiya ka pani, Dariye se milke, Sagar ke ore chale from Hey Neele Gagan Ke Tale Dharti Ka Pyaar Pale, from the movie Hamraz sung by legendary singer Mahendra Kapoor.  But the same song being continuously played many times is irritating and unwanted for residents on the bank. A follower of strict principles, though good for the health of the organisation, is kept away from the management of the body being not practicable. Thus, an excess of even the true grievance or a good characteristic can become a mystery to the compatriot. The agonies of grumbling victim are visible at the cost of equally painful hearts with stood by the compatriot without uttering a word. This leaves us in a dilemma about deciding who is the real sufferer. The sufferings of one are obvious and explicit, but the other remain unrecognised and both continue to live in a troubled coexistence. This compels me to compare the unsung compatriots and their feelings with the Parwana as expressed in this beautiful lines from a beautiful song written by GL Rawal and from the film Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya ‘Hum wo parwane hai jo shamma ko dum bharte hain,

Husna ki aag mein khamosh jala karte hain, Aah bhi nikle to pyar ki ruswai hai, 

Phir koi chot muhabbat ki ubhar aai hai, 

Dil ne phir yaad kiya’.