Can you feel hopes in these eyes ??? Bhojpuria spent a day in
Basantpur to find the Greatest mathematician of
our times. Here is what Bhojpuria found after having a long chat
with his brother, his mother and other villagers of basantpur.
Reported by Sudhir Kumar on behalf of Bhojpuria.com with
special thanks to Mr. Sahil Suman and Mr. Sagar Singh (both from
Ara)
On Monday, November 28 2005, I took Shramjivi Express from Patna to meet the World's best mathematician. I reached
ARA at 12:00, Mr. Sahil Suman and Mr. Sagar Singh were there to
recieve me.
We took some light food and moved to the Bank of India (ARA
Branch), the Manager was absent but other Bank Officails
confirmed us that Dr. Vasishtha Narayan Singh is in his village
only. Now, started our visit to Basantpur, a typical Bihari
village,where development is yet to come.
There was no alternate to go but a BIKE, there were so many
small villages in this 12 km journey, the roads are as bad as
any other Village road in Bihar. One thing, which is good about
this place is, Everyone knows Basantpur as "Vashishtha babu ka
gaon" (The village of Dr. Basishtha Narayan). After one hour of
long tedious journey, we reached his vilage.
Our first encounter was with a Villager, he said "vashisth babu"
is not supposed to be treated by his family, or even this
village, Vashishtha babu is a national Asset and government
should take care about him. "Ab jaun ego ped howela, ookara ke
hila ke jhar dehal jala, log ke bujhe ke chahi ki, agar ee ped
thik rahi ta bahut fayada ho sakela (we should not waste his
potential but should take special care about him, this will
benefit us)" He added.
We entered his house, HE was sleeping on a KHATIYA (a kind of
BED) wearing an old baniyan and a dhoti. He asked me "PEN BAWE
(do you have Pen)" I gave my Pen to him. He started to write
something on the Top of the Hindi newspaper, which he was
reading.
We met his younger brother Aayudhya Prasad Singh, who have
retired from ARMY a few months back. We started our conversation
with his younger brother Ayudhya Prasad Singh, the moment we
asked our first question Vashishtha babu stood up and said... "ja
log, ja log, aail bada log majaa lewe... (Go, go now, you had
come here for plesure...)". This was the time, my eyes were full
of tears, Not for the reason he was sending me back, but only to
understand his feeling. I was able to feel that, this man had
seen a lot of EMPTY Promises and is not interested for the next
one.
We Left his home and went back to his neighbours. They told us,
that a lot of Politicians used to visit the village, but thats
an old story now. They even told us that everything depends on
his mood, if he is not in the mood, no one can make him talk.
After 10 minutes, we were back to his home, now talking with his
brother in Bhojpuri, within 5 minutes Bashishthjee came and
asked me "Camera bawe, ego Photo la log hamaar bhai ke saath (do
you have a camera, take my picture with my brother)". It was
atime of Joy, we took two photgraphs immediately. He sat of the
next chair to his brother while putting his hands on his
shoulders, no one can believe by that photgraph that he is
mentaly disturbed.
While talking his brother told us that Shatrudhan Sinha (Former
Health Minister and famous Actor) came to his house once. He
even arranged a Job for his (brother's) Son in somewhere in
Health Ministry in New Delhi. Due to that employment, now they
are able to get medicines at discounted rates. He says, even
then, it takes Rs 1200/- per month for his medicines.
When we asked his brotyher about reasons for being mentally
disturbed, He said "Aapan-aapan tareeka ba soche ke, lekin hamra
ta ehe bujha ta ki adheek samman bhi ghatak howela kehu-kehu
khatir. Ehija waisan mahoul naikhe, basic suvidha naikhe, bijli
naikhe, bahut tarah ke dikkat ba (Everybody have their own
opinions, but what I belive is, sometimes, the RECOGNISATION in
the world also makes people like this. There is a lack of basic
facilities like Electricity, and even the atmospheare for him to
work)".
"The Government provided him facilities for about 4 years at
NIMHANS, when he was in Hospital, he seemed to be absolutely
normal at that time. The Doctors and staff of NIMHNS were very
co-operative, even your family members will not support you like
that. BUT, we faced a lot of trouble for him at that time, so we
had to take him back, after all the whole life can not be spent
in a Hospital, if the Government wants, we can have facilities
at Home as well. He returned at 1997 and since that time, he is
here only. Although for about 2 years in 2002-2003, he went
again, but to no help" He added.
When we asked him about the progress of treatment at this
moment, he said "We are doing all treatment from Delhi only, my
son sends all the medicines and we consult doctors on Phone
regularly about condions (like sometimes, he was not able to
sleep in nights, but thats resolved now). He does not want to
leave this village, nobody knows, what he thinks but one thing
is for sure, He is not thinking in negative all the time,
sometimes he is positive as well".
"He returned from America in 1973, he returned only due to his
Love towards the nation. He is not a property of me or this
village, he is for the whole world. If we die this time, nobody
will care but, if a person like Vashisthjee have even FEVER, the
world will be curious to know about him. The basic factors for
his condition includes, the poverty, the arrangements, the
electricity, his marriage, his divorce and a lot more. We do not
know the actual reason, HE is the only person who knows it, but
he can not tell" he said.
When we asked him about Vashisthajee's educational background,
he said "he had a research published in America, he was a TOPPER
there in his time. He was an Associate Professor at University
of California, when he returned. He had even worked for NASA."
His brother feels, we should take good care of a person like HIM
till the time he is alive. Although he is just 62 now. When
asked about the Politicians, he said that the local MLA usually
visits him. Ramvilas paswan and other Big leaders used to come,
but thats an old story now. The Government also sends some aid
from time to time but not regularly.
When asked about his daily actiities, he said "His day to day
life is perfect even today, he reads newspaper, geeta and
ramayan daily. He writes a lot as well, but nobody can
understand what he is wrinting, atleast not anyone in ARA is
able to understand anything till now."
"Since YOU come from Bhojpuria samaj, its a relation of soil,
please put this matter to the world so that we can help him in
this condition. Although, he needs to be taken care by this
world, and the whole Humanity" he requests. Then He requests HIS
(vashisth jee's) Mother to talk to us and leaves for a Marriage
ceremony after giving instructions for Nasta-Pani.
When we started the conversation with her mother, the innocent
lady said "His brother and family is taking care of him since
past two and a half years, there is absolutely no support from
government since then. The last time he was admiteed at New
delhi for about 1 year and four months. HE was a lot better
there during treatment. The Government wanted him to be there
for long time, but we could not put him there for Life."
"He is OK here, and I can not find any problem in him now. even
if the government stopped helping us, we are taking care of all
the treatment to him. WE do not have any expectations from
Government. It is their duty to help him get the treatment and a
better life, it depends on the government wheather they do their
duty or not." She says with hopes in her eyes.
When we asked her about reasons for his mental disbalance, she
said "WE do not know any reasons, although when he returned from
America, he used to take some medicines (?), when we(his mother)
asked HIM (vashisthjee) about that, he said those were sleeping
pills. He was even lost in 1989, in Khandarwa (Madhya Pradesh),
when we were going for some treatment, after a gap of more than
4 years, in 1993 somebody recognised him in Chapra (Bihar) and
informed us."
"We demand a better atmospheare and better treatment facilities
for him. We are not happy with the way his life is going on.
This is a shame for this world that a talented person is
sufferring like this. She added. She felt confident, when we
asked her about new government in Bihar, she said, this new
government will definately think something about him and will
take good care of HIM.
When asked about future plans, she said "The Life will go like
it is now. His brother and the family is taking care of him.
Suppose, I raise my hands to you(the government) for help and if
you(the government) decline to help, what would happen. We are
not expecting any major changes in near future. It was the
government, which stopped all the help and sent him back to this
village. No government representetive comes to even meet now a
days. All the politicians and Ministers visits him, but the
results are only false promises."
"The only aid we got in recent times was from Bank of India
Emplyee's Association, he presented us with Rs. 5001/- and a
Shawl about 15 days ago. Yes, he reads or writes something
continuously, only God knows, what he writes or reads.
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