Greenery belies the hunger and poverty which is all pervading, this whole as annexed by British as the Diwani of ‘Bengal, Bihar & Awadh’ still seems to be living in same Colonial or rather Mughal era, travel starting from Bagdogra and ending in Patna with focus point of course the Corn grainery which this area is symbolizing increasingly, for simplicity purpose area incharges of Bengal and Bihar would be known as Sirajudaula and Sher shah suri all great rulers of their era and area but felled by their follies.
Amar Sonar Bangla:
Be it Rabindra Sangeet or Nazrul geeti it all glorifies the physical beauty of Bengal and which it is, for perfect 5 minutes you admire that and than potholes get you, road to Maldah from Dalkhola is full of that, Congress flags, Pukurs(The village ponds) and of course small boats its really is all ethereal,Maldah is a big transhipment point.
Border :
Dusty road to Sonamasjid from Maldah is treacherous , and come this monsoon villagers can think of harvesting the corn which got spillaged from trucks whole of the way, the small border village dotted by mango orchards famous for ‘Maldah Aam’, daily does a commerce of around 250 trucks to Bangladesh which is just 100 mt away from Zero point, these days around 1500 MT of maize also crosses over.
Color of Lungi can differentiate between two religions but everyone is proud of Bangla heritage.
Monsoon wedding :
Road from Purnea towards khagaria, I notice many a decorated jeeps, full of gun totting boisterous males sitting everywhere except the tyres, blaring horns, showing every other vehicle on road their standing, that’s what whiskey does to you in 43 degree temperature these were the marriage parties and the lagan was for two days, Shershah phones to inform no hotels are available anywhere in the 250 km stretch from Katihar to Begusarai to Barauni, standing in no where land..mulling over the situation I note in India marriage is a big economic driver, hotel boom should be coming to Bihar anytime.
Gangajal :
Off the beaten track me/Sirajudaula find shelter in Bhagalpur, big ex army moustached guard guides us to the room, ‘Babu saab’ as upper castes are known in Bihar in new socialistic dispension are getting reality checks, this proud guard did stretch his hand for Bakhshish.The town bordering big corn belt of Naughacia is famous for blinding of prisoners and communal riots,with marriage season in full swing we thought better to stay in room rather than explore.
Lal Badshah :
Hasanpur our red fort is very near to Big corn belts of Mansi/Khagaria..road is full of villages and potholes, in front seat of the car I could hear Sirajudaula and Sher shah both scaring pants off the customer representative who had come all the way from Rajnandgaon with the stories of Kidnappings &naxalites found on this way and than suddenly hush fell, both had stopped play acting.. it was a bamboo jungle 4 kms long , made famous few years back when kidnappers used it frequently, I could hear sigh of relief from customer when we came to populated area once again.
Ek Duje ke liye :
Near Barh district on road to Patna whilst coming back, I notice a TN no truck in its efforts to save a pedestrian swing towards right and in process disoriented a fast moving marriage party jeep(Score TN-1, Bihar 0), it did hurt the pride of jeep driver and in its hurry to settle score one of guy jumps from moving jeep..albiet on wrong side falls and hurts himself(Score TN-2, Bihar-0),jeep stops.. truck stops two stick wielding man pull down the drivers and get first blood(Score TN-2, Bihar-1), mob joins.. situation seems bad driver and entrouge apologises(Score TN-2, Bihar-2), Truck starts, speeds and drivers takes out his head out of window says something in Tamil which I am sure is a profanity but do not understand(Score TN-3, Bihar -2), Jeep driver by now had lost the zeal still shouts which is a profanity and I perfectly understand(Final score TN-3, Bihar-3).
Imagine our team from different states settling matters this way!!!
Some how make it to Patna in time, harried and distraught from the traffic jam, the ‘Desi Blonde’ airline recepitionist greets me, I smile and think again of the graffiti
Neem ki dali chandan se kum nahin.
Aur…………………………………………………..
Hamar Patna bhi London se kum nahin.
Amar Sonar Bangla:
Be it Rabindra Sangeet or Nazrul geeti it all glorifies the physical beauty of Bengal and which it is, for perfect 5 minutes you admire that and than potholes get you, road to Maldah from Dalkhola is full of that, Congress flags, Pukurs(The village ponds) and of course small boats its really is all ethereal,Maldah is a big transhipment point.
Border :
Dusty road to Sonamasjid from Maldah is treacherous , and come this monsoon villagers can think of harvesting the corn which got spillaged from trucks whole of the way, the small border village dotted by mango orchards famous for ‘Maldah Aam’, daily does a commerce of around 250 trucks to Bangladesh which is just 100 mt away from Zero point, these days around 1500 MT of maize also crosses over.
Color of Lungi can differentiate between two religions but everyone is proud of Bangla heritage.
Monsoon wedding :
Road from Purnea towards khagaria, I notice many a decorated jeeps, full of gun totting boisterous males sitting everywhere except the tyres, blaring horns, showing every other vehicle on road their standing, that’s what whiskey does to you in 43 degree temperature these were the marriage parties and the lagan was for two days, Shershah phones to inform no hotels are available anywhere in the 250 km stretch from Katihar to Begusarai to Barauni, standing in no where land..mulling over the situation I note in India marriage is a big economic driver, hotel boom should be coming to Bihar anytime.
Gangajal :
Off the beaten track me/Sirajudaula find shelter in Bhagalpur, big ex army moustached guard guides us to the room, ‘Babu saab’ as upper castes are known in Bihar in new socialistic dispension are getting reality checks, this proud guard did stretch his hand for Bakhshish.The town bordering big corn belt of Naughacia is famous for blinding of prisoners and communal riots,with marriage season in full swing we thought better to stay in room rather than explore.
Lal Badshah :
Hasanpur our red fort is very near to Big corn belts of Mansi/Khagaria..road is full of villages and potholes, in front seat of the car I could hear Sirajudaula and Sher shah both scaring pants off the customer representative who had come all the way from Rajnandgaon with the stories of Kidnappings &naxalites found on this way and than suddenly hush fell, both had stopped play acting.. it was a bamboo jungle 4 kms long , made famous few years back when kidnappers used it frequently, I could hear sigh of relief from customer when we came to populated area once again.
Ek Duje ke liye :
Near Barh district on road to Patna whilst coming back, I notice a TN no truck in its efforts to save a pedestrian swing towards right and in process disoriented a fast moving marriage party jeep(Score TN-1, Bihar 0), it did hurt the pride of jeep driver and in its hurry to settle score one of guy jumps from moving jeep..albiet on wrong side falls and hurts himself(Score TN-2, Bihar-0),jeep stops.. truck stops two stick wielding man pull down the drivers and get first blood(Score TN-2, Bihar-1), mob joins.. situation seems bad driver and entrouge apologises(Score TN-2, Bihar-2), Truck starts, speeds and drivers takes out his head out of window says something in Tamil which I am sure is a profanity but do not understand(Score TN-3, Bihar -2), Jeep driver by now had lost the zeal still shouts which is a profanity and I perfectly understand(Final score TN-3, Bihar-3).
Imagine our team from different states settling matters this way!!!
Some how make it to Patna in time, harried and distraught from the traffic jam, the ‘Desi Blonde’ airline recepitionist greets me, I smile and think again of the graffiti
Neem ki dali chandan se kum nahin.
Aur…………………………………………………..
Hamar Patna bhi London se kum nahin.
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